Innovation helps Octo move beyond small business roots

Octo Consulting was a very successful small business, growing rapidly over 10 years but as it transitioned from small business programs to full and open competitions, it knew it had to change.

It needed more mature processes and undertook the effort to be certified as CMMI Level 4 for Development. It is one of only 20 companies in the nation to achieve that designation, according to the company, and one of the few to do so only use Agile projects.

The CMMI designation has allowed Octo to deliver software for complex IT projects that are 98 percent defect free.

The company was recognized this week as the winner in the Best Use of Corporate Restructuring category in Washington Technology's Industry Innovators awards program.

The company also restructured its chief technology officer organization to make it a separate entity that reports directly to the CEO. This allows the CTO shop to look forward and start developing solutions for problems the federal government will face in the future. At the same time, the CTO also can apply those emerging solutions to current challenges. The company has applied this approach success on 12 contracts needed creative solutions.

The CTO office also has led efforts to strike alliances with a variety of technology vendors such as oLabs. They are working together to secure the infrastructure for the Army Defensive Cyber Operations.

Octo’s early focus on Agile software development helped it land a $34 million contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for software engineering, infrastructure and support.