Case studies
How the Smithsonian is building a roadmap for digital transformation
Smithsonian Office of Digital and Innovation (OD&I), USA
OD&I leads the digital transformation of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.
Services: Strategic planning, roadmap development
Tools: Workshops, Consultancy
Delivered: 2024 – 2025
The ask.
Digital is one of the five pillars of the Smithsonian’s strategic plan. But for an institution of 21 museums, a zoo, and a highly decentralized structure, turning that commitment into action required careful planning. OD&I needed a way to align its rapidly growing team around a shared vision and to set priorities that could make transformation achievable.
The answer.
We worked with OD&I I to create a strategic roadmap that would help the team define priorities, plan investments, and build the foundations for change across the Smithsonian.
The approach.
We designed a structured process to help the team:
- articulate a vision for the future
- identify strategic priorities
- develop measurable goals and a 12-month action plan
Along the way, we helped make ambitious ideas concrete and actionable. As OD&I expanded, absorbing new teams and responsibilities, we also supported staff in creating shared values and operating principles – giving them alignment on how they would work together, not just on what they would deliver.
The outcome.
The strategy and roadmap are already shaping OD&I’s direction, providing a framework to communicate with Smithsonian stakeholders and a foundation for prioritizing future work. They give the team a basis to adapt to change, take on new responsibilities, and continue building digital transformation with confidence.
– Allison Prabhu, Associate Director of Business Operations, Smithsonian Office of Digital and Innovation
“FG+W worked with us during a year of dramatic change and expansion. They understood our challenges and brought empathy, flexibility and insight to the project. Their process helped us come together as a team to articulate our strategic priorities – priorities that remain key guideposts, enabling us to adapt to changing circumstances while staying focused on what really matters”
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