Federal agencies are under more pressure than ever to modernize systems, improve security, and deliver services with speed and accuracy. Yet many modernization efforts are still built around isolated projects or large procurements that solve one problem but do not advance the overall mission.
In her latest Government Technology Insider guest article, Makpar’s Vice President of Technology Jessica Alfaro explores a smarter path forward, which is capability led modernization built on reusable, mission aligned building blocks.
Why a Capability Led Approach Matters Now
In the article, Jessica outlines why agencies need a framework that delivers outcomes faster and more reliably than traditional modernization methods. Rather than treating every effort as a standalone project, a capability led model focuses on maturing a set of core competencies that can be reused across programs and mission areas.
Jessica highlights three capability domains that are essential for federal transformation:
- Cloud optimized engineering that reduces legacy technical debt and creates architectures that scale and integrate across systems.
- Decision intelligence built on strong data standards, governance, and stewardship so agencies can trust their insights and prevent the “garbage in, garbage out” effect that undermines AI.
- Cyber resilience rooted in preventative security, continuous monitoring, and rapid
These capabilities give agencies a foundation that can be measured, reused, and improved over time, which is exactly what is required in today’s resource constrained environment.
Connecting Capabilities to Mission Outcomes
Jessica emphasizes that capability led modernization is not simply a technology conversation. It is a mission effectiveness conversation. By investing in repeatable capabilities instead of siloed projects, agencies can:
- Cut time to value and deploy new services faster.
- Tie every modernization activity to measurable mission improvements.
- Reduce duplication of effort and reinvest savings into higher priorities.
- Build long term resilience to evolving threats and legislative requirements.
This approach ensures that modernization becomes a continuous, outcomes driven practice instead of a cycle of one-off technology refreshes.
A Real Example: Digital Identity as a Reusable Capability
Jessica points to digital identity as a key example of where capability led thinking delivers meaningful results.
Instead of building isolated authentication solutions, agencies can establish a single digital identity platform that works across on prem, cloud, and SaaS environments. This reduces complexity, improves security, and accelerates adoption of critical services.
It also aligns directly with federal priorities such as Zero Trust, fraud prevention, and secure citizen access.
Guiding Agencies Toward Measurable, Repeatable Growth
The article recommends that agencies use a simple maturity model to track the development of each capability, from initial build through operationalization and optimization. This provides a roadmap for improvement and a structured way to plan investments, training, and partnerships.
As Jessica notes, modernization is not about doing more with less. It is about doing the right things in a smarter, repeatable way that moves the mission forward.
Read the Full Article
Jessica’s full guest article provides practical insights for federal leaders navigating modernization, cybersecurity, and AI adoption.
Ready to strengthen your modernization efforts? Contact Makpar to learn how capability led strategies can accelerate mission outcomes.
