Prioritize analog administration over digitization for its inherent benefits, not blind adherence. - Minister opting against digitalization of administrative procedures in specific.
Digital Minister Urges Caution in Public Sector Digitalization
Digital Minister Steffen Schuetz has argued that not every administrative process in the public sector requires digitization. In an interview, Schuetz claimed that if a company has inefficient processes, they should be reformed or dismantled, not simply digitized. In contrast, he pointed out that such processes are often clung to in the public sector, even being digitized. Schuetz raised the concern that digitizing mediocre processes would result in merely digitalized, unimproved workflows.
Schuetz emphasized the importance of discussing work processes themselves during the digitization process. He believes it is crucial to question which regulations and reporting obligations are necessary, which services the state should provide and which it should not.
Recently, Thuringia's progress in digitization has been lagging behind other federal states, as shown in the Bitkom State Index 2024. Thuringia ranked last with 49.6 points, while the Hanseatic city of Hamburg scored 73.5 points. Thuringia also positioned itself relatively low in the Germany Index of Digitization 2023 from the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems.
To improve public sector work processes during digitization, several strategies can be employed. These include streamlining bureaucracy, conducting process mapping, digitizing key services, simplifying legal frameworks, involving citizens and stakeholders in the regulatory process, creating innovation hubs, expanding broadband access, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and improving digital literacy and skills training.
In Thuringia, initiatives like the 115 service demonstrate the potential for digitization to enhance public sector efficiency and citizen engagement. The focus on supporting the middle class through digital technologies, such as AI, showcases the potential for digital innovation to boost economic competitiveness and public services.
- The Digital Minister's concern about digitalizing mediocre processes in the public sector highlights the need for a revised community policy that emphasizes vocational training in technology and policy-and-legislation, focusing on identifying and modernizing necessary workflows.
- In Thuringia's efforts to improve public sector work processes during digitization, it's essential to consider strategies that involve citizens and stakeholders in the regulatory process, encourage innovation hubs, and provide general news about the importance of expanding broadband access, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and improving digital literacy and skills training.
