Federal Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel announced Wednesday that he will release a new mobility strategy by mid-March to speed up federal adoption of mobile technologies and strategies.
For now, the administration is engaging the public through an online dialogue to generate best practices and ideas. Anyone can submit ideas to be considered. One issue the new strategy will address is the creation of contracting vehicles for agencies to more easily purchase mobile technology, VanRoekel told reporters.
The strategy will also address how to:
● Improve delivery of government information, products, and services through technologies, including those that are mobile
● Engage citizens more fully and meaningfully in their government
● Reduce the costs of government operations through technology-enabled efficiencies
● Increase Federal workforce productivity by liberating them from ineffective 20th century work practices.
VanRoekel pointed to the General Services Administration and the Veterans Affairs Department as examples of agencies that embody what the administration is trying to accomplish with the mobility strategy. GSA is working on a strategic sourcing plan for mobile technology, and VA has already put iPads into the hands of some clinicians.
VA CIO Roger Baker has expressed his support of employees bringing their own devices to work, and VanRoekel agrees.
“I think that’s something we need to embrace,” VanRoekel said.
1 Comment
Steven is focused on the right issues, and having a mobile federal workforce that is not tethered to his desk and fat desktop computer is huge. I would also take away their power point capabilities to force the feds to collaborate and think. Today’s bloated PCs are no longer a productivity tool.