Leveraging Agile to Improve Public Sector Technology Sourcing and Procurement

Leveraging Agile to Improve Public Sector Technology Sourcing and Procurement

This IDC Perspective recommends that senior government technology procurement executives adopt the principles of Agile procurement to speed the procurement process, respond to constituent requirements, and provide flexibility in a rapidly changing technology and business environment. Most organizations are using Agile methods to develop and deliver software applications. At the same time, the traditional procurement process, with long RFP cycles and detailed requirements, is recognized as too slow and unresponsive to the needs of rapid delivery of external digital services. The market for outsourced services has evolved from billion-dollar contracts with durations of 10+ years to short contracts of smaller value, but with much more growth potential.IDC Adjunct Analyst Thom Rubel comments, "Agile has the potential to dramatically improve the government procurement process as it has already demonstrated in software development and operations. Rapid and flexible procurement is critical for agencies that rely on external service providers to deliver digital disruption in a highly competitive marketplace."

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