Unfortunately, XML for Web content management does not always provide the tangible results needed to easily demonstrate progress. Having a more effective and efficient workflow is not as flashy as a new widget or application. Each team needed to determine for themselves what they would need to provide their management to show progress. A technical staff member from a large agency explained how they used frequent meetings to maintain support: “We’ve always had our management’s backing for this ... We have meetings with our management and the different project areas [to continue this support].”

The teams also found the business case they developed as a part of the Testbed to be very helpful in this process. Each team also developed a communication plan that the project manager followed to keep executives informed of progress. In each of the agency teams that were part of this project, executive support shifted due to the nature of the world in which government operates. It was through this communication plan that they were able to maintain executive sponsorship and support, even when executive sponsorship changed. The business case and communication plan provided them with a consistent and effective way to provide new leadership with the information necessary to garner their support.