Kevin Craig | Indev

An Agile Framework for Transforming Federal Mission Delivery

Abstract: When Federal Agencies become aware of the potential benefits of Agile practices, they initially tend to focus on the information technology implementation outputs that come from the application of those practices, however, it is critical to the agency to realize that implementation of Agile practices is most successful when it is approached as a shift in the culture of how to get IT solutions into the hands of the users for the entire organization. When this happens the application of Agile principles becomes tailored to the needs of the agency, the measurable outputs become more repeatable, and the organization can realize outcomes that cross IT support and user boundaries. This white paper will present an Agile framework that focuses on pragmatic, iterative, and tangible growth for the organization and it’s mission, enabled by coaching and culture change and accelerated through tools, templates, and adoption techniques. It’s important to understand that Agile does not have to be a single textbook implementation but should be a journey tailored to the unique needs and challenges of the organization, grounded in proven processes, techniques, and culture changes.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

The Microlearning Session: Techniques to Increase Knowledge Retention, Buy-In and Reduce Training Costs

Abstract: American businesses spent upwards of $88 billion on training in 2018, yet only 37% of the delivered training is considered effective. Effective learning is “training results that drive strategic goals.” To achieve a state of effective learning, organizations are investing a lot of money in technology, to reach an employee anywhere, at any time. Formal, in-person training is a thriving business, with around 63% being delivered off-site. But these considerable training efforts provide meager results, due to the training aspects that are ignored in the rush to deliver a product that is ‘good enough,’ that is, within resource constraints.

At Indev, we believe knowledge retention should be the primary metric for a training program; we want people to learn! How do people learn? In small manageable chunks, that are clearly relevant to their skillset, job, and interests. Microlearning is the most effective training technique to achieve this state. It doesn’t require a formal setting and takes advantage of current and emerging technology.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

The Cybersecurity Imperative for the Federal Government: Elevating Cybersecurity Resilience

Abstract: Vulnerabilities, weakness, and adverse events happen. They are expensive and resource intensive. It’s not a matter of “If these will occur”, it’s a matter of “When” and “How”. Establishing resilience is urgent as rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats are set against your operations. Indev delivers Resilient Cybersecurity Services in response to this urgent need. We use repeatable, actionable, risk reduction methodology that is agile, effective and cost-efficient. Indev’s Resilient Cybersecurity Services are designed with the dynamics of inherent risk built-in, our methodology accounts for implementation of risk-based informed defense and prioritizes preventative measures. Our cybersecurity service delivery has enabled our clients to maintain continuous compliance; improve their cyber scores and recover operations in minutes instead of hours or days. This white paper will explore our methodology across the spectrum of cybersecurity resilience including how to approach security with emerging technology trends such as DevSecOps and cloud infrastructures.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

DevSecOps: A Federal CIO Imperative

Abstract: This white paper provides a background on DevOps, why it has evolved into DevSecOps, and why it is no longer a “nice to have” but truly a business imperative. The purpose is to outline why the DevSecOps journey is essential to meeting the organizations mission and goals. Additionally, this paper will discuss the key components and capabilities that support and enable your organization to deliver with speed, stability, quality, and security. We intentionally gear this paper towards industry best practices with the understanding that they apply in large part to every organization type and make it clear that DevSecOps is not only for industry but necessary for public institutions to innovate, operate efficiently, and provide the quality services that taxpayers rely on and expect.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

Modernizing Federal IT with Microsoft Business Applications

Abstract: Federal customers are looking to modernize their application portfolio, move away from legacy technology, connect business processes and data end-to-end, and transition to a digital enterprise to achieve long-term strategic goals. Indev offers comprehensive, differentiated solutions and services that federal agencies can utilize in any stage of their digital transformation journey to create, modernize, and extend line of business applications. We help you realize benefits from cloud-based SaaS platforms like Microsoft Business Applications in a fast, manageable and cost-effective way. We bring expertise and experience from large-scale enterprise deployment of MS Dynamics for the federal sector and combine it with agility and productivity of small teams with multi-disciplinary skills during implementation. Through this white paper, we share our experiences, insights, solutions, and frameworks that will accelerate an agency’s digital transformation journey, while simultaneously modernizing applications.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

The Convergence of IT and Business: Transforming Mission Delivery with Technology Business Management (TBM)

Abstract: This White Paper provides a background and a technical approach for organizing investment portfolios to align the methodologies, strategies and tools required to manage the cost, quality and value of their IT services. The Technology Business Management (TBM) framework is an opportunity to leverage IT as a business-oriented value laden service. It is critical that CIOs understand how to implement a successful TBM framework that adds value within their organization. This not just a change in the management of IT spending but a complete shift in mindset that allows for improved decision-making outside of the traditional business versus IT silos that are so prevalent in most organizations, including federal agencies. As CIOs are responsible for providing the workforce with the key tools, applications, and systems that drive mission success and have the best understanding of the technical requirements of their organization, TBM allows them to show the cost effectiveness of technology solutions through a business and customer value perspective. It is necessary to have a thorough understanding and expertise to incorporate TBM methods into ongoing IT operations. Stakeholders within IT, Finance, and the business need to work together to help realize models that support the implementation of TBM. Successful cost management supports digital transformation initiatives and presents opportunities for application rationalization. Aligning IT portfolios to the TBM framework allow IT organizations to reap the benefits of Optimization, Rationalization, and Transformation. This white paper presents our approach to TBM and how best to leverage the framework and its benefits within your organization as well as how to ensure compliance with OMB and other federal mandates. The Indev approach to TBM for government translates the practices and processes established in industry and implements them in a phased approach to not impede the Federal IT budget cycle while aligning the operational, IT and financial views.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

Blockchain: Innovating Security & Transparency for the Public Sector

Abstract: This white paper provides a background on Blockchain, or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and its potential use in transforming how government agencies fulfill their obligations and provide services to citizens and taxpayers. Blockchain technologies have the potential to create a new era of trust between government and citizens, enabling the security and transparency needed in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing environment. Many of the services provided by government have not undergone significant changes in their business processes for decades and some since their creation. Blockchain can transform old business models, increasing efficiency while drastically decreasing the need for intermediaries and repetitive, time and labor-consuming work. Additionally, the technical innovations can democratize services, opening them up to a larger portion of the population while ensuring the level of security demanded.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

Discovering New Insights, Creating New Business Solutions, and Enabling Better Decision-Making in the Public Sector through Data Analytics and Visualization

Abstract: Organizations are rapidly realizing the value that data can provide from enhanced insights to greater operational efficiency to new business applications and solutions and even the enablement of advanced and emerging technologies. Federal agencies are no exception and in fact have vast amounts of data that is often disparate, unstructured, and difficult to access or effectively leverage. Data analytics and visualization can help transform data into business value, greater decision-making, and mission delivery. Proper data analysis can lead to process improvements, provide additional insight into core missions, provide cost savings, and increase data quality. This white paper will explore an effective approach to tackling data analytics and visualization in the federal government and how the process and strategy are equally as important as the underlying technologies. It is often not enough to simply place a dashboard on top of existing data; understanding the mission and goals of the organization and aligning those to your data analytics and visualization approach is vitally important. Without this alignment and following a process that enables that alignment, these efforts may not produce the desired value and insights. Data analytics and visualization has become essential part of all federal agencies with far reaching benefits across all aspects of an organization. Indev has the experience to provide organizations with the necessary strategy, approach, and tools to enhance the value delivered to the agency.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

A Technical Approach to Improve the Success and Retention Rate of Air Traffic Control Students in the United States Air Force (USAF)

Abstract: This white paper addresses key issues facing training managers and leadership in the United States Air Force (USAF). Currently, they recruit and train approximately 477 students per year, approximately 50% of these students will be unsuccessful in subsequent field training after completing courses at Keesler. This paper discusses a methodology to determine the best ways to effectively train highly technical skills to students who have grown up with instant information at their fingertips using the latest in technology. Today, most entrants into the USAF training programs have grown up in an information rich environment with instant access to critical information on their hand-held devices i.e. Cell Phones, iPad, and others. Unfortunately, this type of free and easy access has unintended consequences. Students are losing core memorization skills and retention of critical information for job skills is sometimes lost due the voluminous amount of information students are exposed to. For example, when they lose their hand-held devices, they become disoriented and lost. There is hope! Using a Training Innovation Roadmap, new techniques and innovative learning systems that are being developed to help students learn and have fun learning, instead of death by PowerPoint training. In addition, Instructors need to learn new ways to teach technical skills to students from diverse educational and social backgrounds. Memorization of key information and application and with technical proficiency–based learning objectives are discussed in this white paper.

Indev is a small business that provides the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Controller training for the largest and busiest Air Traffic Control facilities in the Western US, Towers, TRACON’s, ARTCC’s and Tower Simulators.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

Training the Workforce of Tomorrow

Abstract: This white paper addresses the challenges of training today’s millennial generation workforce. Training the workforce of tomorrow is becoming increasingly more challenging as more complex technical skills are needed in the government and private sector workplace. The new hyper-connected workforce has instant access to information and technology like never before, core memorization skills of students is diminishing with technology and information overload. Training methods have evolved over the last couple decades and will continue to evolve with the millennial generation of learners demanding more impactful training. This paper cites experience gained by Indev in Air Traffic Controller Training in some of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA’s) busiest Air Traffic Control facilities. This paper also discusses our innovative approach to training, with a focus on and retention and memory skills for high impact and consequent jobs like Air Traffic Control while prioritizing the unique needs of delivery to diverse customer bases in government. This paper applies to many diverse government agency jobs and training requirements, especially in high consequence job categories.

To access the complete white paper, please email us at info@indev.com

Indev Announces the Hiring of Sandi Van Valkenburg As Senior Director of Transportation Programs

Indev Ranks 7th in the 2019 Washington Technology Fast 50

TSA Awards SAFe Coaching Services Contract

Indev Launches New Website

FAA Awards Indev Agile Transformation Services Contract

Cloud Enablement: Transform Your Mission

An Agile Framework for Transforming Federal Mission Delivery

The Microlearning Session: Techniques to Increase Knowledge Retention, Buy-In and Reduce Training Costs

The Cybersecurity Imperative for the Federal Government: Elevating Cybersecurity Resilience

DevSecOps: A Federal CIO Imperative

Modernizing Federal IT with Microsoft Business Applications

The Convergence of IT and Business: Transforming Mission Delivery with Technology Business Management (TBM)

Blockchain: Innovating Security & Transparency for the Public Sector

Discovering New Insights, Creating New Business Solutions, and Enabling Better Decision-Making in the Public Sector through Data Analytics and Visualization

A Technical Approach to Improve the Success and Retention Rate of Air Traffic Control Students in the United States Air Force (USAF)

Training the Workforce of Tomorrow