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Governments, public sector leaders, and their communities face an increasing number of high-impact events. Severe storms, wildfires, flooding, power outages, and large-scale infrastructure disruptions are growing problems that test the readiness of institutions and the adaptability of communities.

In an age of accelerating change and unprecedented complexity, governments worldwide face the formidable challenge of governing not just for today, but for tomorrow. These challenges underscore a fundamental truth: reactive governance is no longer sufficient. Public leaders must anticipate, prepare, and adapt to emerging realities with unprecedented speed and sophistication.

The author’s insights equip public leaders and managers with practical tools for engaging the public in ways that foster meaningful participation and collaboration. Drawing from two decades of research, training, and practice in public engagement, the report emphasizes the importance of engaging with different community voices; other insights address the strengths that local communities can build upon to inform public policy and achieve public goals.

On behalf of the IBM Center for The Business of Government, we are pleased to present this new report, Leadership Framework for an Agile Government, by authors Pallavi Awasthi and Kuang Ting Tai of Nova Southeastern University. The report presents leadership imperatives for driving agile government based on extensive research and analysis, drawing on the experiences of digital leaders in city governments such as Boston, Philadelphia, Louisville, and Miami.