Data must be central to improving the criminal justice system
Better use of information is crucial to improving people’s experiences with justice agencies and reducing recidivism, according to Georgie Henley of techUK
Government’s battle for the future of work
Despite the best efforts of some ministers, the profound changes brought about by the pandemic...
IWD: The tech sector needs equity, not just equality
The industry needs to focus on building equitable products and workplaces rooted in inclusivity...
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‘A symbolic moment has passed’: Prospective city mayors have missed the chance to champion tech
In three weeks, voters in Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool get to choose new mayors, but you’d be hard pushed to find much mention of tech in their manifestos, says David Walker. He asks if there’s a reason for their seemingly half-hearted approach to IT...
NAO offers 'balanced view' of history of digital transformation, but GDS now needs to focus on Brexit
Much will be made of the UK spending watchdog’s recent report on how the Government Digital Service is adapting to its new way of working – but the real test of government digital is more likely to be Brexit, writes the Institute for Government’s Daniel Thornton.
Public sector IT contractors: Focus on value not cost as IR35 hits
At the end of March, the government is facing a brain-drain as contractors leave the public sector rather than be caught out by stricter tax rules. But Eduserv’s Max Elliott-Massouras says the focus should be on the value of contractors – not their cost.
If you make bold decisions, you have to execute them well: Five lessons for getting transformation right
Aingaran Pillai, CEO and founder of open source software company Zaizi, says that governments need to make bold decisions on digital - but make sure they're executed properly. He offers his top five tips for digital staff here.
Keeping tabs on transformation: Why tracking progress will be crucial for success
A lack of benchmarking data on digital transformation programmes in government makes it hard to evaluate success at a time when it has ever been more important, says Jane Roberts, strategy director at TopLevel.
Algorithms in decision-making inquiry: Stephanie Mathisen on challenging MPs to investigate accountability
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee is to investigate the use of algorithms in decision-making, an inquiry chosen as part of the committee’s crowd-sourcing project. Stephanie Mathisen, campaigns and policy officer at Sense about Science, who pitched the idea to the MPs, explains why the field needs more scrutiny.
How can government raise its tech game? The digital tools transforming democracy for today and tomorrow
The UK’s model of governance seems impervious to radical technological change, but elsewhere in the world, countries are getting digital democracy right, says Theo Bass, a researcher at innovation foundation Nesta and author of a report looking at the tools governments have at their fingertips.
Government transformation strategy misses the opportunity to transform the wider public sector
The government’s transformation strategy seems to be more about re-packaged principles when it needed to demonstrate how a revolution could be achieved in practice, says independent digital analyst Jos Creese.
Senior buy-in and real incentives 'urgently needed' to make transformation strategy a success
The government's transformation strategy needs buy-in from the political top brass to drive the radical culture change that underpins the plan, writes PublicTechnology editor Rebecca Hill.
Digital leadership: Changing your whole approach, not just doing better digital projects
The government's transformation has admirable aims, but will need leaders who understand what digital really means if it to become a reality, says Janet Hughes, digital director of Doteveryone's digital leadership project.
Same difference? How the GDPR will differ from the DPA – and what public servants need to do now
For a public sector only just beginning to adapt to the demands of digital data, the looming General Data Protection Regulation obligations could be alarming. Jane Roberts of Toplevel asks how the GDPR will differ from existing legislation.
‘Whitehall’s digital strategy could be more workaday than grand plan’
In a post-Brexit world, says David Walker, caution may be the best digital strategy civil servants can hope for.
Mapping out transformative public services with a geospatial data hub
Idriss Mekrez, chief technology officer for the public sector at MarkLogic, sets out the potential geospatial mapping has for the public sector.
Local government voice telephony doesn’t have to be a Cinderella service
Freddy Kanter of Foehn argues that voice communications can make a greater contribution to councils' cost-cutting activities - and that its time in the spotlight has come.
Transformation strategy delays: Government urgently needs to take digital out of limbo
That the long-awaited digital strategy has fallen by the wayside is not a surprise, but ministers must move to demonstrate their commitment to digital quickly, writes PublicTechnology's online editor Rebecca Hill.
Starting at the right end of digital care: Place-based and citizen centric care is a task for GDS and NHS Digital
Jos Creese, independent digital consultant and principal Analyst for Eduserv, says that technology should promote fundamental change in our care services – and argues that this is the responsibility of everyone from local providers to central government.
Social impact in the spotlight: Why the public sector must embrace collaborative platforms
Public services are in for a tough decade, facing constrained budgets and political upheaval. But Nesta’s Matt Stokes argues that governments must take advantage of the collaborative economy to change the way they tackle social challenges.
Whitehall’s digital divide
The government needs a unified approach to front and back office functions if it wants to make the cost savings digital promises, argues Jane Roberts of TopLevel.
Scottish social care providers must not wait for the limitations of analogue telecare to appear before adopting digital
With current approaches to Scotland’s social services labelled unsustainable, and health care similarly under pressure, Tom Morton of Communicare247 urges providers to realise the potential for digital technology now.
Trump appears to have no position on digital – but are the tech tides against him?
The digital revolution in US states and cities is not likely to grind to a halt following Trump’s election, but your take on his win will depend on how you view the sands of time, says David Walker.
Why data is key to the success of city devolution
A lot has been promised to the public on city devolution and the price of failure is high. Eddie Copeland, director of government innovation at Nesta, argues that joining up data across those regions is one basic way to give the plans a fighting chance of success.