Integrating technology can be a positive for local government, boosting citizen engagement, reducing corruption, speeding service delivery, and cutting costs. However, most projects fail – and too many facilitate repression. This guidebook is designed for political leaders and project managers to navigate the goals of modernizing the public sector while supporting democracy and human rights.
The Guidebook was written in two parts. The first strategic component is for mayors and other local leaders thinking about the vision and goals of technology transformation. Part two is written for project managers, IT implementers, and others tasked with operationalizing the vision.
Digital transformation provides a compelling opportunity for cities and other local governments to reimagine and update their systems for serving and understanding their residents. Technology can help the public sector reach people faster and more cheaply, helping democracy deliver for citizens. Unfortunately, tech transformation can be expensive and confusing, particularly navigating the pitfalls of for-profit technology vendors or systems bought from authoritarians like China, and many projects do not succeed. The Municipal Digital Transformation Guidebook provides important questions to ask and proven processes to help guide successful technology implementation that reinforces democracy and human rights.
The Guidebook can help leaders thoughtfully learn from experience to avoid common pitfalls, start from the real problems, ensure the right forms of community consultation, consider technologically marginalized communities, and base your project on evidence. From a small project like website design to launching a whole new set of digital services, this Guidebook draws upon years of best practice to help leaders make the leap into digital transformation as successful as possible.
Cost
The Guidebook is a free download.