Following recent wins with CMS and USDS, key strategic moves including naming an Open Standards and Practices Lead, GovCon honorees CivicActions shares some of its tips for success as a remote and distributed team.
Openness
The most important aspect of our culture is Openness. Our company is driven by open source, open standards, transparency in communication, and a willingness to share knowledge and learn from others. We value open source technologies, and this reflects our collaborative, community-focused approach. For instance, we are passionate about growing and contributing back to the Drupal community in order to enhance digital services for all. Our open practices are embedded in everything we do, from the way we collaborate with government agencies to the way we foster trust and inclusion within our team.
Committed to Remote Work and Distributed Teams
One of the most unique aspects of CivicActions’ culture is our deep commitment to remote work and distributed teams, something we’ve championed throughout our 20 year history. While many companies have recently adopted remote work, it’s been a core part of our DNA since the beginning. This long-standing dedication allows us to create a work environment that prioritizes flexibility, work-life balance, and innovation.
Our approach goes beyond simply working from home; we’ve built a fully remote infrastructure that fosters collaboration, connection, and innovation across time zones. We’ve cultivated an inclusive culture where the team is not only supported but empowered to thrive.
This commitment to remote work has also made us a leader in sustainability, as we reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating the need for commuting and physical offices. It sets us apart by allowing us to attract diverse talent from across the country and to retain team members who value flexibility, while still delivering exceptional service to our clients.
Core Values Embedded in Operations
We ensure our culture remains by embedding our core values—Balance, Openness, and Care—into every aspect of our operations. Whether it’s in the way we approach project management or our remote-first work environment, these values guide our decisions. We also rely on structured feedback loops, such as team surveys and retrospectives, to constantly gauge how aligned we are with our cultural principles and make adjustments as needed.
Our approach to working with clients and partners reflects our values of collaboration and openness. We aim to build long-term, mission-aligned relationships where innovation and impact are prioritized over short-term gains. Our ideal partner is one that shares our commitment to public good, embraces open standards, and is passionate about inclusivity and sustainability. We look for partners who value transparency and ethical technology practices.
Sustainability
For CivicActions, Sustainability Practice is the most important Elev8 characteristic, closely aligning with our commitment to Drupal as a Digital Public Good (DPG). Our focus on sustainability goes beyond reducing waste—it’s about creating resilient, flexible digital services that last. By using Drupal, an open source platform, we minimize reliance on costly proprietary systems, helping build a more efficient digital infrastructure that can evolve with community input. This approach fosters collaboration and innovation, supporting sustainable digital transformation and aligning with our mission to create ethical, lasting technology solutions for the public good.
What’s Ahead
As CivicActions grows, we ensure our culture stays strong by deepening our commitment to Digital Public Goods and aligning everything we do with our mission to build open, inclusive, and sustainable technology for the public sector. Digital Public Goods, like Drupal, are central to our work, reinforcing our values of Openness, Balance, and Care while serving the public good.
By embedding this mission in every aspect of our operations, we ensure that our growth remains aligned with our principles, delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for governments and communities. This commitment sustains our culture and drives lasting change and innovation.
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