WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council (Council) and Grant Thornton Public Sector unveiled the third annual survey of the five-year “20/20 Project on the Homeland Security Enterprise,” called The Business of Homeland Security: The Value of Engagement and Innovation.
Building on the 20/20 Project surveys of 2015 and 2016, which established a baseline examination of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this new report focuses on the “business of homeland security,” the value the Homeland Security Industrial Base (HSIB) brings to the mission, how both government and industry can achieve better alignment of innovative processes and tools to build a more effective and efficient Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).
“We are so excited to release the observations and analysis of current and former government officials and industry executives who are actively committed to the success of the Homeland Security Enterprise,” said Marc Pearl, Council President and CEO. “This year, we are proud to also include in the report a few recommendations that both industry and government can collectively and respectively address to build on the gains made in recent years.”
“The HSIB brings a tremendous value to the HSE and its mission,” said David Haun, Director with Grant Thornton Public Sector and a leader of the survey team. “This year’s survey confirms that the overwhelming majority of respondents agree, but acknowledge that the HSIB and the HSE must do a better job of coordinating and collaborating in order to build greater mutual trust between these two communities.”
The 2017 20/20 Project survey outlined three key recommendations to strengthen the business of Homeland Security:
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Strengthen Communication and Engagement, Throughout the Acquisition
Lifecycle
Expand formal and informal government-industry engagements, especially early in the acquisition process; Continue and strengthen “Unity of Effort” initiatives, particularly the Joint Requirements Council (JRC), the Deputy’s Management Action Group (DMAG), and the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) Acquisition Innovations in Motion (AIiM) initiatives. -
Address the Impact of Protests on Both Sectors
The HSE and the HSIB should commit to work individually and together to identify, understand and work toward eliminating the obstacles that contribute to excessive protests. -
Foster Innovation
The HSE and the HSIB should build a shared appreciation for how and when to pursue innovative processes, technologies and products to achieve mission needs, and for addressing the inherent costs and risks.
The 20/20 Project, launched in 2015, employs annual surveys, one-on-one interviews, small focus groups, and the Council’s annual National Conversation event to collect and offer in-depth insights and unique perspectives from current and former government officials and industry executives. The goal is to encourage government and industry to examine the continuing challenges facing the HSE, identify and share best practices, develop actions to effectively and efficiently achieve mission success, and regularly assess the progress being made between the two sectors towards better engagement.
During the spring and summer of 2017, more than 200 government officials, former government officials now in industry and industry executives participated via seven focus groups, numerous in-person interviews and a web-based survey. Respondents include senior leaders from DHS and other HSE agencies and executives from leading firms that support the HSE.
To read the full survey report, please click here.
About the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council
The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a not-for-profit, non-partisan membership organization comprised of senior executives and their subject matter experts from the leading large, mid-tier, and small companies that provide homeland security technology, product, and service solutions to our nation and around the world. Our mission is to bring government officials and their executive-level counterparts from industry together for an open, transparent and vital exchange of ideas and perspectives, so that we can jointly discuss the best ways to solve mission challenges. Learn more about the Council at www.homelandcouncil.org.
About Grant Thornton Public Sector
Grant Thornton Public Sector helps executives and managers at all levels of government maximize their performance and efficiency in the face of ever tightening budgets and increased demand for services. We give clients creative, cost-effective solutions that enhance their acquisition, financial, human capital, information technology, data analytics, and performance management. For more information, visit www.grantthornton.com/publicsector.