What does it really take to change the trajectory of government technology? Not just for a moment—but for the long haul?
If you’ve followed the Prodacity blog series, you know we don’t waste words on platitudes. Transformation in government is hard. The stakes are high, the obstacles are real, and bureaucracy is stubborn. But as this year’s closing Prodacity sessions made clear, the path forward isn’t about lone heroes or magic frameworks. It’s about practitioners, the government technologists, and the public servants pushing for better ways to work in tough environments
The Real Progress We’ve Made
Barry O’Reilly, author of Lean Enterprise, provided a clear-eyed look at the last decade. There’s a lot to celebrate: experimentation is now mainstream, the product mindset is replacing old project thinking, and portfolio management is more adaptive. Where once “experimenting” sounded reckless, today it’s a requirement. If you’re not actively learning and iterating, you’re falling behind.
Why Bureaucracy Still Fights Back
For all that progress, some battles remain. Bureaucracy, with layers of approvals, endless committees, and a fixation on process over outcomes, still stifles innovation. Vanity metrics and box-checking can lull teams into complacency, making it easier to count story points than to deliver real, mission-critical outcomes. O’Reilly called out the ongoing struggle: too many transformation efforts still fail, not because people lack vision, but because the system resists change at every turn.
So how do we break the cycle?
Teams, Not Heroes: Bryon Kroger’s Challenge
“The most important thing a leader can do isn’t to be the savior, but to unleash the full capability of their people.” - Bryon Kroger
Bryon Kroger, Rise8’s founder, answered that question with a challenge. Transformation doesn’t happen by waiting for a hero—it happens when you build a team that doesn’t need one. The most important thing a leader can do is unleash the full capability of their people. History doesn’t change because of isolated individuals; it changes when empowered teams align around a mission and refuse to accept the status quo.
Kroger reframed the “Sisyphus” myth for government tech: instead of a lone figure endlessly pushing a boulder uphill, imagine a force of many—teams, partners, communities—moving the stone together, supporting each other when setbacks come. Transformation is never a solo climb.
The Formula for Real Change
What’s the formula? It’s surprisingly simple, but rarely easy:
- Start with vision and strategy. Know where you’re headed.
- Grasp the current state using tools like value stream mapping and domain-driven design.
- Align on the next most valuable actions. Not just the next task, but the right one.
- Relentlessly experiment and deliver, using every iteration as an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Share what works, challenge assumptions, and keep unblocking the path to production.
When the work inevitably gets hard and the “boulder” threatens to roll back, it’s the collective team or community that pushes forward. As Kroger said, if you believe your team and your community can change the world, you’ll have the opportunity to do exactly that.
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LFG: Let’s Build—and Ship—Something
The closing call of Prodacity wasn’t to reflect and walk away, but to do something with what you’ve learned. Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when you put insights into practice, share your experiences, and invite others along for the ride. Transformation belongs to the builders—those willing to act, experiment, and keep pushing forward even when the system resists.
The future won’t wait for the next round of “innovation theater.” It belongs to those who are ready to move, try, build, and ship to prod.
Bridge the Gap: Introducing Practitioners Academy
“The real heroes aren’t the ones who write the books or build the frameworks—they’re the practitioners pushing for better ways in tough environments.” - Barry O’Reilly
If you’re serious about turning lessons into action, there’s no better next step than investing in your team’s capability. This March 31–April 2, join us in Park City, Utah, for the inaugural Practitioners Academy. Get hands-on, real-world application for government and industry practitioners ready to drive meaningful outcomes.
Your Academy attendance includes deep workshops, live simulations, and learning alongside experts and peers, focused on the disciplines of Product Management, Platform Engineering, Software Engineering, and Design. No silos, no fluff—just practical learning to help your team bridge the gap from “knowing” to “doing.”
This is how real transformation scales: by investing in your people, your teams, and your mission. Keep an eye on our page for more information - applications open Oct 2025.
Ready to move beyond talk? Schedule a call with Rise8 to start your transformation journey today. Let’s build something that lasts. LFG 🚀
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