Using insights from our latest webinar ‘How UK Government Transformation Can Fuel a Brilliant Civil Service’, Leila Romane, Head of Public Sector at Âé¶¹Ô´´ UK & Ireland, explores how Âé¶¹Ô´´-powered digital transformation in the public sector will transform lives.
Although transforming public sector servicesÌýholds huge benefits for government and citizens alike, first youÌýmustÌýget there. And as if digital transformation itselfÌýisn’t a big enough challenge, the disruption of Brexit and COVID-19 haveÌýfurther increased the challengeÌýon the social and economic planning around digital transformation.Ìý
It’s well recognised that doingÌýnothing isÌýthe passive road to long term failure.ÌýBut movingÌýaÌýgovernmentÌýdepartment to an outcome-based focus around citizen experience,Ìýdata centricityÌýand workforce wellbeingÌýrequires newÌýtypesÌýand levelsÌýof engagement fromÌýcivil servants,Ìýstaff,ÌýIT vendors,ÌýecosystemÌýpartnersÌýand of course citizens usingÌýnewÌýservices.Ìý
Old-fashioned outdated systems areÌýonlyÌýpart of the problem as they don’t drive change or enable government departments to be agile or strategicÌý–Ìýparticularly when it comes to strategic workforce planning, learning and skills development,Ìýemployee and citizenÌýexperience management or business planning.ÌýÌý
The answer is more than just a robust singleÌýITÌýoperating platform.ÌýÌý
At Âé¶¹Ô´´, weÌýthinkÌýsoftware vendorsÌýand delivery partnersÌýalikeÌýshould beÌýsteppingÌýupÌýtoÌýhelp – properly help –ÌýtoÌýfacilitate an effective change modelÌýfor the public sector, rather than justÌýselling and implementingÌýa technology model.ÌýWe recognise that transformations are more than justÌýaÌýchange inÌýtechnology;ÌýtheyÌýhave the potential to rewrite theÌýgenetics of a department.ÌýÌý
The whole Âé¶¹Ô´´ business is committed toÌýmaking a meaningful and lasting differenceÌýin the public sector.ÌýWe understand there is a different approach requiredÌýand areÌýequippedÌýwith our ‘start anywhere, go everywhere’Ìýapproach,Ìýto demonstrate our dedication to the public sector.Ìý
So, we’ve put ourselves inÌýour customers shoes. We’ve mapped out the traditional obstacles to effective transformation, listened toÌýtheirÌýdrivers for change and acknowledged the public sector idiosyncrasies to design a model specific to the public sectorÌýÌý
One of the key lessonsÌýthatÌýJennyÌýChurchard, CloudÌýLead at Government Shared Services,ÌýsharedÌýfrom her experience with GSS transformations was how they shouldÌý‘adopt not adapt’.ÌýWhenÌýmoving to the cloud, government departments want something they can take out the box and use, rather thanÌýcoding a convoluted system that will be outdated before it’s even implemented.ÌýÌý
That’s whyÌýthe Âé¶¹Ô´´ÌýframeworkÌýenablesÌýorganisationsÌýtoÌýuse aÌýmodel company method to protect business as usual, address areas whereÌýtheyÌýhave the most pressing need and ensure the mental wellbeing of staff throughout the process and beyond.Ìý
Very few public sector departments have the same starting point when it comes to digital transformation projects.ÌýHistorically that’s been a problem because software vendors have been pushing solutions that forceÌýorganisationsÌýto start and finish at specific points with little consideration forÌýtheirÌýown specific context.ÌýÌý
Deborah Gregg, Public Sector Consultant at Deloitte, highlighted ‘not boiling the ocean’ as key to long term success for shared service transformations.ÌýAt Âé¶¹Ô´´, we whole–heartedly agree.ÌýWe thinkÌýorganisationsÌýshould be able to start anywhere and go everywhere atÌýtheirÌýown pace.ÌýThat’s whyÌýÂé¶¹Ô´´ takes a modular approach that lets organisations rapidly deploy different modules of functionality at different times and according to their own timeframes and unique requirements. This not only reduces risk but also increases confidence of success for government departments.ÌýSuch a modular approachÌýallows for different pain points to beÌýtargetedÌýin advance of a wider transformation, enhancing user experience more rapidly.ÌýÌý
Historically, transformations were viewed simply as changes in technology andÌýso users were often left floundering with new systems that hindered their day-to–day, rather than enhance.ÌýÌý
This isÌýnot the case with Âé¶¹Ô´´. Employee experience is a critical consideration throughout digitalÌýtransformationsÌýin the public sector. We want to fulfilÌýtheÌý,ÌýpositionedÌýbyÌýAndyÌýHelliwell,ÌýExecutive Director, Government Shared Services,ÌýofÌý“a future where public servants’ ability to support government priorities and deliver services to them is enhanced by the shared services providedÌýto them.â€�ÌýÌý
Neil Stoker,ÌýHead of HR Systems & Pension Solutions, Group Human Resources, Department for Transport,Ìýacknowledged that staff approval and satisfaction with the usability of Âé¶¹Ô´´ systems was a significant factor as to their continued relationship with Âé¶¹Ô´´. He referenced the example that ‘floor walkers’Ìýwere sent away after less than two days during the most recent stage of the Department for Transport’s digital transformation journey, as the user interface was so easily navigated.ÌýThis not only highlightedÌýthat Âé¶¹Ô´´ technology is user-friendly, but just how pivotal user experience is to the civil service.Ìý
However,Ìýthe elephant in the room is of courseÌýthe currentÌýCOVID-19Ìýpandemic.ÌýEnacting a transformation journey in the current climate is surely an insurmountable feat?Ìý
Deborah Gregg suggested otherwise. She commented thatÌýas the longevity of virtual working looks more and more likely,Ìýgovernment shared services are increasingly looking atÌýworkforce management, digital enablement andÌýagility in processes.ÌýTherefore, the public sector’s attention continues to look toÌýa digital network that can support such aÌýfluid environment.ÌýÌý
Âé¶¹Ô´´ can easily target these focus areas, and as demonstrated we have the passion, understanding, flexibility andÌý–Ìýlet’s not forgetÌý–Ìýthe technology to power digital transformations that will fuel a brilliant civil service.Ìý
Ultimately,Ìýone of the reasons many people spend their careers inÌýtheÌýpublic sector is often through a sense of wanting to give back and gain greater fulfilment from work.ÌýÂé¶¹Ô´´ is entirely committed to supporting the ethics and experiences of those who deliver our publicÌýservices, andÌýwould take pride in doing so.Ìý
As you can see,ÌýÂé¶¹Ô´´ isÌýkeenÌýto actively listen to UKÌýgovernment organisationsÌýabout how we can help improve people’s lives,ÌýrespondingÌýby tailoring ourÌýapproachÌýaccordingly.ÌýAnother thing we’ve learnt fromÌýour public sector customersÌýand partnersÌýis that theyÌýwant isÌýto hearÌýfromÌýcompaniesÌýwho have already been down the digital transformation pathÌýand we can make that happen.Ìý
If you would like to learn more about how Âé¶¹Ô´´ is working with the public sector, you canÌýview the previousÌýÌýand sign up toÌýEpisode 2:ÌýHow UK Government Transformation Can Fuel a Brilliant Civil ServiceÌý.
By Leila Romane, Head of Public SectorÌýatÌýÂé¶¹Ô´´ÌýUK & Ireland.Ìý


