During this time of economic, technological, and political transformation, many states are looking for fresh thinking as they look to meet citizens' needs. Embracing change can help states become capable of evolving quickly to close the gap between “what is” and “what could be.”

In some cases, a strategic initiative driven from the corner office can jump-start state innovation.

How a governor handles tough challenges can define his or her time in office. Here are some possible challenges state leaders may face in the years ahead.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence and cognitive computing can offer big opportunities as well as challenges.

State government leaders are re-evaluating how they recruit, develop, manage, and engage twenty-first-century employees. To keep pace with the private sector, states need to evaluate how work is organized and rewarded, how people are hired and evaluated, and the overall employee experience.

Such technologies as digital government, online self-service, and artificial intelligence offer government leaders a chance to rethink workflows and reduce costs often while enhancing service levels.

Many states have untapped data and are just learning how they can use it to deliver value to citizens. Properly directed data can foster partnerships among governments, businesses, non-profits, community groups, universities, and hospitals.

State leaders should recognize that adding technology to classrooms may not be enough to improve educational standards. Participants in the education ecosystem can work together to create integrated technologies to improve education for students inside and outside the classroom.

College tuition has risen by 538 percent since 1985. States can influence the higher education landscape to better serve students and employers by evaluating how they can integrate the student experience in such areas as performance metrics, financial aid, and job placement.

Advances in technology and analytics can help state human-service agencies focus more on client families. Further, transformational models can make data accessible to clients and caseworkers alike, helping achieve potentially life-changing outcomes in efficient and cost-effective manners.

Investment in infrastructure can act as a direct economic stimulus. To succeed, government agencies should enhance decision analytics that can accurately assemble project costs and benefits so the best decisions can be made about new construction and maintenance programs.

States that can help accelerate the future of mobility will likely see economic benefits as well as enhancements to their residents’ quality of life. Leaders should seek to share critical data to enable a more integrated transportation ecosystem, which is as much an information challenge as it is a transport challenge.

Spending on the criminal justice system has increased at triple the rate of public school funding over the last 30 years. States must address innovative ways to save money while still enhancing public safety. Three emerging areas worthy of consideration are virtual incarceration, streamlined court proceedings and digitized emergency management.