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To add to this: a common problem with these projects is that, even though the requirements are vast and extremely hard to pin down, stakeholders insist on pinning them down up-front anyways because that's how it's always been done. This is then compounded by a procurement process that sets these requirements in stone as fixed deliverables, as opposed to offering both sides the flexibility to reassess after interim sprints / milestones / etc. Fortunately, groups like GDS [1] in the UK, CDS [2] in Canada, and 18F [3] in the US are helping shift this mindset slowly but surely. That's where you get initiatives like agile procurement [4]. Procurement aside, these groups are also at the vanguard of introducing modern tech stacks / tools, user-centered design, and agile project management to the public sector. (Yes, these things exist in government, and these groups are really passionate about making sure their adoption goes beyond mere buzzwords.) Side note: many of these groups are continually hiring, and they've been around long enough by now - and had positive enough results - to gain some clout. If you're tired of selling eyeballs to advertisers, there's never been a better time to use your skills in service of the public good. It doesn't have to be a "lifer" thing - CDS, for instance, has a number of 2-year rotating positions. Source: I'm an ex-fellow with Code for Canada who's continuing to work in the public sector :) [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digit...
[2] https://digital.canada.ca/
[3] https://18f.gsa.gov/
[4] https://www.canada.ca/en/shared-services/corporate/doing-bus... |