Govt digital director mulls digital policy

Govt digital director mulls digital policy

The Government Digital Service’s (GDS) executive director believes that current government policy is preventing the delivery of ‘user defined digital products.’

Mike Bracken has blamed the policy for delaying – and in some cases even preventing – the delivery of such products throughout government buildings at Whitehall.

Computer World UK reported that Mr Bracken wrote in a blog post, 'There is no backing away from the delivery challenge’ and called for the government to ‘change its approach.’

The government made a series of announcements and pledges relating to technology and digital use during 2012. Amongst these were the launch of a single domain website for the government, called GOV.UK, and also ambitious plans to digitise the many transactions carried out by members of the public. It was estimated that these plans could save the public sector an impressive £1.7 billion annually after 2015.

Mr Bracken went on to say, “Here’s my take on why delivery is such an attractive digital strategy in Whitehall. Ministers are inundated with policy directives and advice, most of it of the risk-averse variety. When it comes to digital, the voices of security and the voices of procurement dominate policy recommendations. The voice of the user barely gets a look-in.

“I’ve lost count of the times when, in attempting to explain a poorly performing transaction or service, an explanation comes back along the lines of ‘Well, the department needs are different…’”

“How the needs of a department or an agency can so often trump the needs of the users of public services is beyond me,” Mr Bracken went on to say.

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