Tearing down walls to deliver solutions. A summary of the latest Future of Government report from Deloitte.
The writing is on the wall…and that wall is coming down.
The silos inside governments, between government agencies and between government and the private sector—all of these boundaries are increasingly being dissolved in the service of results.
This year’s Government Trends report highlights a vital shift with broad impact. In an age of discontinuity, governments are moving from hierarchies to networks to enable intragovernment collaboration to achieve intended outcomes.
Silos are being eliminated in areas such as data, funding, and workforce to pool resources and capabilities.
In an age of vexing challenges, public officials, business leaders, and non-profits are nurturing collaborative public-private ecosystems to take advantage of shared knowledge and unique strengths to drive solutions.
As shared in the Deloitte’s Global Government Trends report, there are six ongoing paradigm shifts that are driving this change:
- Accelerated Technology – Governments are using technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, and AI to build connections between people, systems, and different government agencies.
- Convergence of physical and digital realms – Technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and digital twins enable the convergence of physical and digital realities at a rapid pace, allowing government at all levels to make informed decisions, anticipate problems, and gain reliable insights into the future.
- Decline of “the theory of the firm” and rise of “the theory of the ecosystem.” Most individual organisations increasingly see themselves as part of the larger community. Why labour in isolation when you can achieve win-win results through collaboration? Datafication, digitisation, and connectivity are dissolving traditional boundaries.
- Blurring of the lines between public and private. While still focused on profits, businesses are also embracing social and environmental responsibilities, with many adopting purpose-driven business models that can help deliver public solutions.
- Rise of networked power. Hierarchical and centralised power structures are giving way to more networked, decentralised, and shared models of authority.
- From public to “network” trust. Public trust in government is nearing historic lows. Complex problems often involve numerous players, and citizens are increasingly looking to businesses and non-profits to take action on cross-cutting societal challenges. This shift is reframing the paradigm away from “government should solve X” to public leaders guiding ecosystem-driven solutions that tap into a broad network of solution providers.
These six discontinuities are reframing how governments approach their role in delivering public value.
The result: Walls are coming down, which will enable governments to be more effective and connected to those across and outside of government.
So…what are the trends that are being seen in 2023?
Trend 1: Fluid Government workforce models
When it comes to government talent, increased agility is the name of the game. To achieve a future-ready workforce, many agencies are embracing flexible models such as internal talent marketplaces, gig work, and on-demand talent. Leaders are replacing traditional public talent models, including detailed job descriptions and positional requirements, and are taking early steps toward a skills-based approach to workforce management.
To further enhance flexibility, agencies are embracing talent management practices that were rapidly rolled out in 2020 to better support hybrid work in the wake of the pandemic.
Trend 2: Bridging the data-sharing chasm
Smart technologies are commonplace, generating data as never before. The public sector has access to vast amounts of data which, if used to its potential, can provide agencies with greater insights to make more informed decisions. Through a focus on data governance and usage, leaders are breaking down barriers to data-sharing across government, and tapping into other data sources to drive innovation, deliver better services, and improve lives.
Trend 3: Tackling funding silos
Government leaders increasingly recognise that solving boundary-spanning issues, such as climate change and homelessness, require shared-funding approaches—indeed, isolated funding silos can stymie innovation.
Historically, dismantling those silos has been a frustratingly slow process. Today, however, more and more governments are moving toward shared funding to incentivise collaboration between agencies.
Trend 4: Tailored public services
Individuals are unique, as are their needs and requirements, and traditional one-size-fits-all government services have systemically disadvantaged various sections of the population. Thanks to advances in digital technologies, insights from behavioural science, and new data management tools, governments are making strides in providing more tailored and personalised services by sharing data and collaborating between government agencies.
Trend 5: Back-office innovations improving mission performance
Agencies increasingly recognise that back-office operations (e.g., finance, human resources, etc.) are critical to mission delivery. Through tech innovation and process reconfiguration, back offices are making better use of information to enhance service delivery and achieve mission objectives.
Trend 6: Regulation that enables innovation
As sweeping technological changes alter the regulatory environment, many regulators aren’t just reacting—they are proactively anticipating and facilitating wider societal innovation. At a time of disruptive change and rapidly evolving business models, industry is increasingly looking to regulators to help catalyse the innovation landscape.
Trend 7: Teaming up to deliver whole health
Health care historically has focused on treating illness in silos using medical specialists and targeted health centres. But to tackle rising health care costs, government providers are shifting toward “whole health” models that integrate various types of care. To provide integrated health and social care services, public health agencies are forging alliances with other agencies and the private and non-profit sectors.
Trend 8: End-to-end justice
A fair, functioning justice system needs broad involvement. Achieving desired justice results—whether a reduction in crime or swifter court operations—requires collaboration to positively influence communities.
Justice organisations worldwide are prioritising collaboration by establishing structures for intragovernment cooperation and fostering a public-private ecosystem of problem-solvers that includes tech firms, non-profits, and universities.
Trend 9: Security by network
Globalisation and cross-border collaboration continue to boost the influence of companies, non-profits, and individuals, independent from sovereign government action.
These nongovernmental entities are making decisions that have implications for everything from national security and diplomacy to technology innovation and climate change. As the balance of influence shifts, governments are finding ways to build greater cooperation with these entities, actively developing mechanisms to align incentives with national interests.
Keen to read more?
Read the full report from Deloitte and better yet, keep an eye out for future IPAA Queensland events with our partners at Deloitte and challenge your thinking.
We thank Deloitte for their ongoing support for IPAA Queensland.
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