Optimising service delivery as a guide, with proper infrastructure as a prerequisite.
Front-end and back-end
The impetus for digital transformation lies in service delivery. At the ‘front-end,’ government organisations strive to support individuals, employees, and society as optimally as possible with applications. Service delivery by the (central) government as a whole should logically cater to the customer’s perspective. This requires, at the back-end, a strong, future-proof, and flexible digital infrastructure, featuring large and scalable provisions.
Changing the back-end takes time, far more than changes at the front-end. That’s why it’s essential to plan ahead and allocate annual resources and funding to clear out ‘legacy’ (outdated systems) through lifecycle management. Collaboration on the ICT landscape is necessary, both among government organisations and with the market. The government cannot possess the required expertise in all areas everywhere.
Three principle core issues for 2021-2025
- Transitioning to the cloud
- Doing it ourselves, collaborating, or outsourcing
- Being innovative
I focus areas
I focus area 1: Government-wide strategic cloud policy
Moving to the cloud. Deciding on a Government Cloud and/or European collaboration (such as Gaia-X, a federative data infrastructure for Europe), and making arrangements with major commercial cloud providers.
- Developing a strategic government policy for the use of cloud services.
- Formulating a cloud strategy and framework.
I focus area 2: Government-wide ICT Landscape architecture
Jointly establishing the principles for changes, within agreed frameworks and standards.
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- Reactivating the Government Architecture Board and the EAR-online community ((EAR stands for Enterprise Architecture Rijk).
- Joining the NORA community (information available in Dutch) and determining requirements for the government-wide ICT landscape.
- Discussing the (re)positioning of open standards and the Standardisation Forum.
I focus area 3: Approach with I-Teams
‘1x learning, 11 x upskilling, and 12 x implementation’
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- Selecting two implementation trajectories for the I-team approach.
- Practical execution and financing.