Below, we will cover government digital transformation inside and out.
In this overview, readers will learn:
- What digital transformation is
- How digital disruption and transformation are affecting governments
- Digital transformation trends in the public sector
- How governments are faring during the digital revolution
Among other things.
First, we’ll start with the basics of digital transformation.
Then we’ll look at how digital disruption, challenges to change, and what the future holds.
An Overview of Government Digital Transformation
Below, we will look at an overview of key concepts that demonstrate how digital transformation is affecting governments:
- Digital Transformation
- Digital Disruption
- Digital Maturity
- Challenges to Digital Transformation in the Government
- One Approach to Digital Modernization
Then we will see how digital disruption causes digital transformation, as well as some common obstacles faced by transforming governments.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation itself refers to organizations leveraging digital technology to:
- Improve processes
- Stay modern and competitive
- Deliver on customer or user expectations
- Exploit growth opportunities
- Adapt to digital disruption
Among other things.
However, fundamentally, many of these efforts are only possible due to the disruptive effect of digital technology itself.
Digital Disruption
Virtually every economy, marketplace, and industry is being affected by digital disruption – and governments are no exception.
In a survey by Deloitte, 3 out of 4 respondents said that digital technology was disrupting the public sector. And 96% of respondents claimed that the impact was significant.
However only 41% were satisfied with their organization’s reaction to digital trends.
And only a small percent felt that their governments were keeping up with the global digital revolution.
Digital Maturity
Digital maturity could be thought of as the end goal of digital transformation.
Digitally mature organizations and institutions are those that:
- Have advanced IT infrastructures, tools, and technology stacks
- Have streamlined digital workplaces that seamlessly integrate workers with their tools
- Make full use of their platforms and software
- Have organizational cultures and climates that are digitally fluent
For example.
Though there are different views on what constitutes “full digital maturity,” these are some common characteristics.
Challenges (And Strategies for) Effective Government Digital Transformation
Challenges vary depending on how mature an organization is.
During the early stages, agencies and organizations need to focus on areas such as:
- Developing a digital transformation strategy
- Becoming more agile
- Lack of understanding of digital maturity
While more mature agencies have to deal with obstacles such as:
- Competing priorities
- Funding concerns
- The digital skills gap
One solution offered by Deloitte is a comprehensive change management approach built around:
- Strategy – Having a roadmap and a strategy that addresses the core areas of digital transformation, then focus on making fundamental changes to citizen services.
- Leadership – Leadership needs to be sophisticated, digitally-savvy, and understand how new technologies and trends will benefit organization’s that adapt.
- User Focus – Services should be user-centric, agile, and designed to engage.
- Culture – Culture comes first in digital transformation. Cultural traits such as risk-taking, collaboration, and innovation are valuable for evolving organizations, especially in the digital age.
- Workforce Development – The digital skills crisis hinders organizational growth, competitiveness, and innovation … not to mention employee productivity and value.
Deloitte’s approach to effective digital transformation isn’t the only one, of course.
There are other approaches to digital change management, each with their own priorities, benefits, and perspectives.
What to Expect from “Digitally Mature” Governments
While many governments are making slow progress on their road to digital maturity, we already know what to expect from digitally mature governments.
Dell, for instance, helps governments deliver “smart” services to their citizens, such as:
- Digital communities. Also known as “smart cities,” digital communities use IoT to connect cities and their citizens to solve problems that result from the growth of urban populations.
- IoT, data lakes, and analytics. IoT will allow governments to connect a wide variety of smart devices throughout cities and their country. Sensors, license-plate readers, video surveillance, and other devices can work together to improve government services, delivery, and efficienty.
- Data-driven decision-making. Big data can offer big insights, when used properly. Dell is one among many other enterprises that offers big data analysis and insights.
- Public safety. The more modern the technology, the better a government will be able to respond to the public safety needs of its citizens. A more tightly integrated IoT network, when utilized by public safety workers, will help governments better protect their citizens.
From connected cities to connected cars, there is no doubt that tomorrow’s governments will be more digitally mature and efficient.
Final Thoughts
Many governments recognize the need for digital transformation and digital maturity.
Though slow on the uptake, in the years to come we can expect a number of governments to increase spending on digital transformation.
Many governments already feel the pressure to modernize.
At one point, the UK government proposed an initiative that would make public services digital by default.
Regardless of how quickly or slowly governments adapt, the future is clear – tomorrow’s citizens will enjoy modern, digitally-powered government services that are faster and more effective than those of today.
