Government transformation in tumultuous times
In the face of economic volatility, extreme weather events, and rapidly shifting demographics, the demand for public services has skyrocketed. The chasm between what citizens need and what governments can provide has widened. In response to massive disruption, government leaders have had to act quickly and decisively to show citizens they’re capable of navigating crisis and change.
Public sector organizations that were still in the early stages of digital transformation had to prioritize IT investments to facilitate new public services and keep essential workers online—and much of that work is ongoing. In 2022, Gartner predicts global government IT spending will grow 6.5% to $557.3 billion. That figure is up roughly $100 billion over 2020.
“The digital experience is a key to building the broader public trust—and can lead to more engaged citizens.”
How will government organizations need to evolve in the wake of this digital transformation? Where do they have opportunities to strengthen public trust? To gain a better understanding of how the public sector can succeed in a time of upheaval, the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) worked with the IBM Center for The Business of Government (CBG) to host the Gov 2025 Jam in November 2021.
In an open forum held over 2 days, hundreds of private and public sector leaders brought their perspectives, ideas, and expertise on what it will take to protect, support, and empower citizens in an uncertain future.
“The role of government is ever more important with the increasing convergence of cybersecurity with national security and public safety.”
The expert opinions and solutions Jammers presented were complex, but their overall sentiment was positive. While they were concerned about the challenges in front of them, they demonstrated a hopeful outlook on what could be achieved, especially with the right blend of principles, technology, and leadership.
What will it take to get there? While each country comes with its own unique challenges and constraints, the IBV and the CBG have analyzed the conversations from the Jam to identify 5 urgent issues that public sector organizations must address to continue the steady march of progress:
- Scale services while prioritizing user experience
- Achieve sustainability goals through collaboration
- Empower the workforce of the future
- Modernize cybersecurity
- Develop ethical data and technology practices
Download the report to discover how government leaders can take action in each of these areas to build public trust and deliver the results their citizens demand.
Originally published 13 April 2022
