Digital

Scotland’s Digital Future: Delivery of Public Services Roadshows

March 22, 2013 by Julie Kane No Comments | Category Digital Public Services

Working with colleagues across the public sector, the Digital Directorate recently organised three roadshows (Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow) which brought together ICT practitioners and influencers from across the public sector in Scotland.

It was exhausting but worth it as the roadshows were well received and met their objective of spreading awareness of the projects we are taking forward and getting input into their further development.

Fascinating plenary sessions included Steve Watt, CIO @ Univ of St Andrews. He impressed Edinburgh delegates with his account of the improvements and savings that been achieved through implementation of their Digital Strategy. This had been no easy task considering the logistical constraints to be overcome, including a university of multiple and historic buildings. His objectives included improved data management and storage, virtualising business systems and energy savings.

Case studies also looked at service delivery:

• the successful ePlanning system, delivered on time, on budget and within scope
• school children paying for school meals using the National Entitlement Card (NEC) and parents paying for school trips on-line; and
• the My World of Work website – a Skills Development Scotland initiative-which is generating an average of over 3,000 hits per week for its lifetime career guidance and tools.

SMEs set out how they are exploiting and adapting to a digital world some of the challenges they face going forward. Many are similar to those we face in the public sector – meeting customer needs, improving efficiency, reducing overheads etc –so it was good to learn from each other.

Then there was some intensive discussion in smaller groups where delegates chose topics they wanted to address. We looked at collaboration and achieving value for money in Data Centres and ICT Procurement. We examined the proposed High-Level Operating Framework to apply to all future ICT projects and we looked at a common approach for identity assurance.

A highlight was the keynote address in Edinburgh and Glasgow by Simon Wardley of the CSC Leading Edge Forum. An interesting account of various issues including the implications for the public sector of the “Customer – Innovation – Efficiency” link. Food for thought for everyone and it is really pleasing to quote Simon following the roadshows “The work that you’re doing is excellent and in particular that simple venn diagram of “why” is exemplary”.

Digital Public Services Venn Diagram

Endorsement such as this is always welcome and shows we are doing all of this for the right reasons – keep up the good work!

Julie Kane, Head of Digital Public Services Strategy Programme Office, Scottish Government

More information on the roadshows can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/digital/digitalservices/roadshow2013

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