5 Keys to Technology Transformation

Mike Thompson makes change happen. As one of Booz Allen’s senior information technology (IT) strategists, he helps the U.S. Department of Defense succeed at large-scale technological transformation—including helping the Navy bring its acquisition, operations, and engineering communities together. We asked him for his top concepts for helping large organizations think differently about technology. Here’s what he had to say:

1. Put people first. Change is never just about the technology. You have to think about people, process, and governance. Addressing organizational and cultural changes is key. 

2. Remember why you’re transforming. In the Navy, it’s about enabling the objectives of the enterprise and about supporting the warfighter. You must put yourself in the warfighter’s shoes. You’re affecting people’s lives.

3. Look for quick wins. Transformation is a long-term, big-picture goal. To succeed, you need to quickly demonstrate the impact change can make. Pull people in, get them excited, let them see how innovation adds value.

4. Communicate at every stage. Establish a robust plan at the outset to convey goals and progress. Make sure you understand the customer’s needs and requirements, and find out whether you’re fulfilling them along the way. Involve customers in creating prototypes so you can get their input early. When you field new technology, provide high-quality training.

5. Respect differences. Working across diverse military communities, I’ve discovered each has its own best practices—whether we’re talking about agile software development, process methodologies, IT infrastructure libraries, lexicons, whatever. Success isn’t about pushing one approach but finding common ground. Find a way to integrate best practices and frameworks so you can get people moving ahead together.