As we look ahead to 2022, it’s clear that the public sector has been at the forefront of digital transformation.
The pandemic forced government organizations to accelerate their transition to remote work and rethink how they deliver services to citizens.
In response, agencies have been adopting new technologies and processes at a faster pace than ever before.
But, budgets are getting cut due to new waves of COVID-19 infections, supply-chain challenges and rising inflationary pressures.
That makes it more important than ever to carefully consider where taxpayer money is spent and how to get the most value from every project.
That’s why public sector planners are taking extra care to make sure that every single penny spent goes toward projects that will have the biggest impact on communities, whether in terms of jobs creation or positive long-term impact on city infrastructure.
Working across levels of government and across sectors
Collaboration has been a constant theme for public sector professionals in recent years.
Many key initiatives—including Open Government and Smart Cities—have called for innovative partnerships across government and sectors to find solutions.
More recently, new open data policies also establish an expectation that governments will be able to access, use, analyze and repurpose data from other levels of government (and even private industry) to solve challenges.
It’s clear that working together is not just encouraged but expected.
But there’s another factor driving collaboration: Governments simply don’t have all of the resources they need to deal with their own challenges in isolation anymore.
Trends that are transforming the public sector planning
#1 Focusing on long term resilience and sustainability
The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the existing structural weaknesses and will remain after the crisis is over.
A global system of hyper-exploitation of natural resources, low wages and lack of regulation has made our food systems vulnerable to shocks.
The pandemic has revealed critical flaws in our food systems, from inadequate labour conditions and failed supply chains to deforestation and biodiversity loss.
If a similar disruption strikes again – whether it’s due to another pandemic, climate change-related disasters or a global economic crisis – governments need to be prepared with long-term policies on resilience and sustainable development.
#2 No more silos for greater value and impact
Citizens, consumers and businesses are demanding more transparency, honesty and clarity from their leaders and those in charge of managing our shared resources.
This has created an unprecedented opportunity for a new way of governing that’s creative, collaborative and forward-thinking.
With new data sources (from social media to smart meters), integrated approaches and smarter technology — as well as a renewed focus on ESG — 2022 is proving to be a banner year for public policymaking.
Integrating ideas across traditional silos was once revolutionary.
But, today, it’s necessary just to keep up with the growing demand for better planning, policymaking and implementation to stay one step ahead of rapidly evolving changes.
#3 Digital access for all
The global pandemic has led to a lot of attention being directed toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
After all, digital access should be improved to meet the needs of communities worldwide via the internet.
However, the Digital Divide is a major issue impacting our world. The divide impacts the most vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly and low-income households.
This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internet connectivity is about more than entertainment. It’s about education and empowerment, the ability for people to actively participate in the world around them.
Similarly, digital access is not just about getting people online. People have to be able to access the tools and content that help them achieve their goals.
The government must step in and take a leadership role in ensuring that all their citizens have access to the internet and technology needed to take advantage of digital learning opportunities.
Closing remarks
As we can see, the world of public sector planning is dynamic and ever-evolving. What was once the preserve of the government has now been opened up to citizens.
Public sector planning is poised to be further disrupted over the coming decade.
New technologies, more sophisticated software, and alternative revenue models will change how governments raise revenue, improve services and provide information to their constituents.
The issues that planners are facing are more complex than ever before, and communication with the public will become even more necessary than ever.
Sources:
https://www.salesforce.com/au/blog/2022/02/predictions-public-sector-organizations.html
