Herding Clouds: Combatting False Narratives to Show a Disinterested Stakeholder Audience Why They Should Care – Lake
Abstract:
In late 2017, the Department of Defense launched a key effort in its much-needed digital transformation. The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) Cloud initiative was the pathfinder effort for enterprise cloud computing at DoD; a foundational technology for the Department if it ever wanted to develop artificial intelligence/machine learning or learn how to leverage data as a strategic asset. Almost from the outset JEDI Cloud was plagued by false narratives, myths, and stakeholder misconceptions. These accusations came from the from the private sector, the media, the Hill, and even from within the Federal government itself. Despite this, the next two years saw the release of the first ever DoD Cloud Computing Strategy, the stand-up of the first ever DoD Cloud Computing Program Office, and the conversion of multiple stakeholder organizations from hesitant bystanders to firm champions of the need for enterprise-wide cloud computing.
This presentation will touch on some of those initial struggles and how crisis communications and stakeholder engagement were critical in building an environment that allowed the project to thrive and move forward. Eventually JEDI Cloud would be cancelled and replaced by the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability initiative, but that new initiative would be built on the successes that JEDI did achieve.
Attendees at this session will gain a unique perspective and take away insight on how the JEDI Cloud effort:
- Leveraged strategic communications and bureaucracy hacking to navigate one of the country’s largest bureaucracies;
- Educated and empowered stakeholders to understand the level of effort required for true and lasting digital transformation; and
- Impacted the organization so that, despite its cancellation, JEDI Cloud was a success in the groundwork it laid for cloud future efforts.
PMI Talent Triangle: Technical Project Management (Ways of Working)
