The federal government, led by the Obama administration, state and local governments, nonprofits, and leading private sector companies all seek ways to harness the advantages of innovation. The challenges faced by government in this environment are not new—business and technology managers have long sought to optimize how information technology (IT) supports their mission at reduced overall cost. Today, however, radical advances in computing power offer an unprecedented opportunity to reshape information and service delivery for citizens, while also streamlining program operations.

Entrepreneurial managers who work in and with government will find ways to initiate and leverage innovation in order to achieve important results: to serve more people at a similar or lower cost, while enhancing the quality of services delivered and the support of constituents for services they receive.  A new breed of manager is emerging: one who embraces technological change, in areas that include cloud computing, social media, and cybersecurity, so as to improve the provision of ideas, services, and products. This breed of 21st century public sector manager leverages multiple web-based channels—not for their own sake—but to link innovation with improved mission performance. Put another way, they use innovation to make government work better.