Accenture Federal Technology Vision 2021

Five trends for

post-pandemic
leadership
U.S. Federal Survey Findings
Federal agencies demonstrated
unprecedented agility in responding to the
COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating technology
modernization efforts by years. In its wake, the
need to become a technology leader and build
technology wealth has never been clearer.

Federal agencies must now harness and

sustain this mindset shift to create a digital-
first approach for the future. Leaders will use
technology as not just an enabler, but to
reimagine and improve the mission itself.

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Accenture Federal Technology Vision 2021:

Our five technology trends for 2021

Since 2001, the Accenture Technology Vision has provided an annual glimpse into the most important
trends impacting business, government and society over the next three years. The Accenture Federal
Technology Vision 2021 discusses how this year’s global trends will impact the U.S. federal government
and specific agencies.

Stack Mirrored I, Technologist Anywhere, From Me

Strategically World Empowering Everywhere to We
Rearchitecting Digital twins innovators in Integrating your Take the mission
government for report for duty the workforce virtual workspace further with
what’s next multiparty systems

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Technology Vision 2021 Executive Survey
Business survey

Accenture Research conducted a global survey

of 6,241 business and IT executives to capture
insights into the adoption and use of emerging
technologies. The survey, fielded from December
2020 through January 2021, helped identify the
key issues and priorities for technology adoption
and investment. Respondents were C-level
executives and directors at companies across
31 countries and 14 industries.

U.S. federal findings are a subset of responses

from 200 federal executives across the U.S.
federal government. Approximately half (48%)
identified as CIO, CISO, CTO or other technology
leadership roles with the balance in mission or
business leadership roles.

Displayed results may not equal 100% due

to rounding.

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Five trends for post-pandemic leadership

The world is hungry for new

01
Public and private sector leaders recognize that
every enterprise must be a technology leader,
leadership. Amid the challenges of and this has accelerated digital transformation
2020, two truths became evident. as technology reshapes society, the economy
and the human experience.

02
As we begin to emerge into this post-pandemic
reality, enterprises must master and embrace
an era of continuous change.

5
Digital government transformation accelerates
57% of U.S. federal executives report the pace of their agency’s digital transformation is increasing.

How is the pace of digital transformation for your organization changing?

2%
Global 22% 41% 27% 7%

2%
1%
U.S. Federal 21% 37% 32% 8%
1%

Significantly accelerating Slowing NA, our digital transformation is completed

Accelerating Significantly slowing NA, we’re not currently undergoing digital transformation

Remaining the same

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 6
COVID-19 tested federal resilience
97% of U.S. federal executives report the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented stress test
for their agencies.
For many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented stress test. What aspects of your organization
experienced the greatest stress test? Rank all, where 1 = the greatest stress test.
Greatest stress test
Within top two

Global U.S. Federal

30% 27%
Our technology architecture Our technology architecture
54% 53%

26% 24%
Our strategy Our strategy
52% 48%

24% 25%
Our workforce Our workforce
47% 49%

19% 22%
Our processes Our processes
46% 46%

Our organization did not Our organization did not

experience a stress test 1% experience a stress test 3%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 7
The need to innovate is a top priority
91% of U.S. federal executives report that their organization is innovating with an urgency and call
to action this year.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization is innovating with an urgency and call to action this year.

1%
Global 38% 54% 7%

1%
U.S. Federal 31% 60% 8%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 8
Defining to capture tomorrow’s market
92% of U.S. federal executives believe capturing tomorrow’s market will require their organization
to define it.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
Capturing tomorrow’s market will require my organization to define it.

1%
Global 35% 56% 7%

1%
2%
U.S. Federal 40% 52% 7%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 9
Stack
Strategically:
Rearchitecting government for what’s next
A new era of government is dawning—
one in which an agency’s technology
architecture will be a critical factor in
whether they succeed or fail in their
mission responsibilities. But building
and wielding the best technology stack
for mission success means thinking about
technology differently and making agency
and technology strategies indistinguishable.

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Technology and strategy converge
90% of U.S. federal executives agree that their organization’s business and technology strategies are
becoming inseparable—even indistinguishable.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization’s business and technology strategies are becoming inseparable—even indistinguishable.

1%
Global 35% 49% 12% 4%

1%
U.S. Federal 38% 53% 10%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 11
Technology architecture creating winners & losers
74% of U.S. federal executives agree that their technology architecture is becoming critical to the
overall success of their agency (30% report it’s very critical).

How critical is your technology architecture becoming to the overall success of your organization?

Very critical Global U.S. Federal

Critical 1% 1%
Somewhat critical 35%
Not critical
49% 12% 4%

22%
25% 25%
30%

53% 10%

52% 45%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 12
Technology powers the mission more than ever
30% of U.S. federal executives report technology drives their organization’s overall strategy and goals;
17% say visionary technology goals are at the core of their organization’s overall strategy including
larger societal goals.

Please indicate the statement that best reflects the alignment of your organization’s technology and business strategy.

Global
Visionary technology goals are at the core of my organization’s overall strategy 13%
U.S. Federal
including larger societal goals (sustainability, inclusion and diversity, etc.) 17%

Technology drives my organization’s overall strategy and goals

30%
30%

Technology goals are aligned with my organization’s overall strategy 38%

35%

17%
Technology goals are somewhat aligned with my organization’s overall strategy
18%

Technology goals are not aligned with my organization’s overall strategy 1%

2%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 13
Technology leadership creates real value
87% of U.S. federal executives agree that their organization’s ability to generate business value will
increasingly be based on the limitations and opportunities of their technology architecture.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization’s ability to generate business value will increasingly be based on the limitations and opportunities of our
technology architecture.

1%
Global 37% 53% 9%

U.S. Federal 37% 50% 14%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 14
Mirrored World:
Digital twins report for duty
Leaders are building intelligent digital twins to
create living models of shipyards, jet fighters,
supply chains, product lifecycles, and more.
Bringing together data and intelligence to
represent the physical world in a digital space
will unlock new opportunities to operate,
collaborate, and innovate.

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Integrating insight is mission-critical
89% of U.S. federal executives believe their organization requires a mission control, or central
intelligence hub, to gain insights into complexities and model their organization’s processes,
people and assets.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization requires a mission control, or central intelligence hub, to gain insights into complexities and model our
organization’s processes, people and assets.

1%

Global 40% 50% 9% 1%

U.S. Federal 42% 47% 12%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 16
Digital twins emerging but not as fast as commercially
24% of U.S. federal executives report their organization is experimenting with and 13% are scaling up
digital twins this year.

What technology is your organization experimenting with or scaling up this year? Select all that apply.

Digital twins
Experimenting
Scaling
24%
Global
18%

24%
U.S. Federal
13%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 17
Investment in intelligent digital twins to grow
63% percent of U.S. federal executives expect their organization’s investment in intelligent digital
twins to increase over the next three years.

How do you expect your organization’s investment in intelligent digital twins to change over the next three years?

3%

Global 11% 54% 31% 1%

1%
U.S. Federal 13% 50% 29% 7% 1%

Significantly increase Increase No change Decrease Significantly decrease Don’t know/Unsure

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 18
Digital twins drive enterprise collaboration
87% of U.S. federal executives agree digital twins are becoming essential to their organization’s
ability to collaborate in strategic ecosystem partnerships.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
Digital twins are becoming essential to my organization’s ability to collaborate in strategic ecosystem partnerships.

1%
1%
Global 37% 50% 11%

1%
1%
U.S. Federal 36% 51% 12%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 19
I, Technologist:
Empowering innovators in the workforce
Powerful capabilities are now available to
people across the agency enterprise, adding
a grassroots layer to enterprises’ innovation
strategies. Now every employee can be an
innovator, optimizing their work, fixing pain
points, and keeping the business in lockstep
with new and changing needs.

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Empowering users with technology drives innovation
89% of U.S. federal executives believe technology democratization is becoming critical in their
ability to ignite innovation across their organization.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
Technology democratization is becoming critical in our ability to ignite innovation across our organization.

1%
Global 38% 49% 11%

1%
U.S. Federal 33% 56% 10%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 21
Entire workforce must adopt technology skills
81% of U.S. federal executives agree their organization must train their people to think like
technologists—to use and customize technology solutions at the individual level, but without
highly technical skills.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization must train our people to think like technologists—to use and customise technology solutions at the
individual level, but without highly technical skills.

3%

1%
Global 38% 48% 10%

U.S. Federal 39% 42% 12% 8%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 22
Innovate locally, govern centrally viewed as critical
to success
89% of U.S. federal executives agree that for tools of technology democratization, organizations
need to ensure that training strategies include a focus on security and data governance.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
For tools of technology democratization, organizations need to ensure that training strategies include a focus on security
and data governance.

1%

Global 38% 52% 10%

U.S. Federal 38% 51% 12%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 23
Technology democratization drives
widespread benefits
49% of U.S. federal executives report accelerating solution implementation and interconnectivity
as a benefit their organization derives from tools of technology democratization.

What benefits does your organization derive from tools of technology democratization? Select all that apply.
Global
U.S. Federal
Accelerating solution implementation and interconnectivity 54%
49%

Capitalizing on technology for any employee skill level 50%

46%
44%
Creating scalability and resilience
51%

Delivering more customized responses and offerings with greater agility than ever 42%
34%

Adding a grassroots layer previously missing from enterprise innovation, 36%

extending to the edges of the organization 28%
33%
Lowering demands on IT and helping overcome the technology skills gap
38%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 24
Anywhere,
Everywhere:
Integrating your virtual workplace
It’s time to transform remote work from an
accommodation to an advantage by rethinking
what the agency looks like and what it can
achieve with a virtualized workforce model.
Leaders must develop “bring your own
environment” strategies, addressing the
security ramifications of remote work,
necessary cultural shifts, and the evolving
purpose of physical office space.

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Federal workforce changed forever by COVID-19
79% of U.S. federal executives agree their organization’s employees just faced the largest and fastest
human behavioral change in history due to COVID-19.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization’s employees just faced the largest and fastest human behavioural change in history due to COVID-19.

3%
Global 36% 46% 15%

3%
U.S. Federal 35% 44% 18%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 26
Agencies invested in enabling remote work
47% of U.S. federal executives report investing in digital collaboration tools and 41% in cloud-enabled
tools and technologies to support their remote workforce during COVID-19.

Which of the following has your organization invested in specifically to support your remote workforce during COVID-19?
Select all that apply.

Global
U.S. Federal 48%
Cloud-enabled tools and technologies
41%
47%
Digital collaboration tools
47%
41%
Productivity management tools
44%
40%
Remote monitoring technologies
35%
39%
Learning or training tools
38%
39%
Home networking equipment (e.g., laptops, tablets, phones)
32%
35%
Well-being technologies (e.g., meditation or wellness apps)
30%
33%
Automation tools (e.g., robotic process automation tools, software testing tools)
25%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 27
Remote workers critical to closing federal talent gap
87% of U.S. federal executives believe the remote workforce opens up the market for difficult to
find talent and expands the competition for talent among organizations.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
The remote workforce opens up the market for difficult to find talent and expands the competition for talent among organizations.

1%
Global 37% 51% 11%

U.S. Federal 35% 52% 14%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 28
BYOD becomes bring your own environment
87% of U.S. federal executives agree that leading organizations in their industry will start shifting from
a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Bring Your Own Environment (BYOE) workforce approach.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
Leading organizations in my industry will start shifting from a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Bring Your Own Environment
(BYOE) workforce approach.

2%
Global 31% 50% 17%

1%

U.S. Federal 37% 50% 12% 1%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 29
From Me to We:
Take the mission further with
multiparty systems

The demand for contact tracing, frictionless

payments, and new ways of building trust
brought into sharp focus what had been left
undone with enterprises’ existing ecosystems.
Multiparty systems enable agencies to employ
the power of partnerships and trusted data to
address increasingly complex challenges.

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Exploring multiparty systems but trailing commercial
15% of U.S. federal executives report their organization is experimenting with and 18% are scaling up
multiparty systems this year.

What technology is your organization experimenting with or scaling up this year? Select all that apply.

Blockchain/Distributed Ledgers (Multiparty Systems)

Experimenting
Scaling
20%
Global
25%

15%
U.S. Federal
18%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 31
Agencies embrace the power of the cloud
91% of U.S. federal executives agree that to be agile and resilient, their organizations need to fast
forward their digital transformation with cloud at its core.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
To be agile and resilient, my organization needs to fast forward our digital transformation with cloud at its core.

1%
Global 37% 53% 9%

U.S. Federal 37% 54% 9%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 32
Multiparty systems power more resilient operations
91% of U.S. federal executives state that multiparty systems will enable their ecosystems to forge
a more resilient and adaptable foundation to create new value with their organization’s partners.

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
Multiparty systems will enable our ecosystems to forge a more resilient and adaptable foundation to create new value
with my organization’s partners.

1%
Global 37% 52% 10%

1%
U.S. Federal 40% 51% 9%

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 33
COVID-19 created significant supply chain disruption
75% of U.S. federal executives reported their organization faced a moderate to complete supply
chain disruption as a result of COVID-19.

To what extent has your organization faced supply chain disruption as a result of COVID-19?

Complete disruption Global U.S. Federal

Major disruption 2% 2% 2% 3%
Moderate disruption
49% 12% 4%
Minor disruption

No disruption 18%
20% 21%
24%

53% 10%

59% 51%

Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200 34
Survey credits
Accenture Research Accenture Federal Services Marketing

Renee Byrnes John Conley

Research Lead
Riley Panko
Haralds Robeznieks
Survey Insights

Michelle Ganchinho
Survey Insights

Radek Lasocha
Information Design Studio Lead

Denis Jose
Technology Research

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About Accenture Federal Services About Accenture Research About Accenture

Accenture Federal Services, a wholly owned Accenture Research shapes trends and Accenture is a global professional services
subsidiary of Accenture LLP, is a U.S. creates data driven insights about the company with leading capabilities in digital,
company with offices in Arlington, Virginia. most pressing issues global organizations cloud and security. Combining unmatched
Accenture’s federal business has served face. Combining the power of innovative experience and specialized skills across
every cabinet-level department and 30 of research techniques with a deep more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy
the largest federal organizations. Accenture understanding of our clients’ industries, and Consulting, Interactive, Technology
Federal Services transforms bold ideas into our team of 300 researchers and analysts and Operations services—all powered by
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and military health organizations. year. Our thought-provoking research— centers. Our 569,000 people deliver on
supported by proprietary data and the promise of technology and human
Learn more at www.accenturefederal.com partnerships with leading organizations, ingenuity every day, serving clients in
such as MIT and Harvard—guides our more than 120 countries. We embrace
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Visit us at www.accenture.com

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