Investing in governance to take the next steps in digital transformation. The I-domain is maturing, and governance increasingly focuses on societal outcomes from the deployment of information provision (I). It’s crucial within the central government to understand what is decided and when, and who has a say and when.
Role of CIOs
Chief Information Officers (CIOs) have a more direct role in driving digital transformation within their departments or organisations as outlined in the ‘Central Government’s Decree on the CIO System for Civil Service’ (in Dutch, Besluit CIO-stelsel Rijksdienst). CIOs, for example, are part of the organisation’s board. This requires (leadership) skills, such as taking the lead in embedding ‘I at the heart’. The positioning of the CIO as a digital leader is linked to the type of organisation and its maturity phase; the kind of person that fits the organisation during that transition phase.
Digital leadership in practice
Learning capacity
Within the CIO System, the Advisory Council on ICT Testing is part of the governance cycle. Increased exchange and collaboration from this advisory role further enhance the learning capacity within the system. In-house learning from CIO decisions and peers for mutual learning based on CIO judgements is a big part of this.
I focus areas
I focus area 1: Digital leadership
The leadership suited to the organisation to embed I at the heart. Establishing clear roles and expectations of each other.
- Knowledge acquisition and sharing, having collegial conversations, and sharing inspiration.
- Implementation of the Decree on the CIO System.
I focus area 2: Improving the learning capacity of the CIO System
Trust; openness and willingness to learn from (each other’s) experiences.
- Professionalising the CIO community.
- Masterclasses in digital leadership.
- Sharing challenges and mistakes openly.
- Further investing in collaboration between the Advisory Council on ICT Testing, commissioning authority (in Dutch, bestuurlijke opdrachtgever), CIO Forum, and individual CIOs.
