Digital Enterprise Architecture for an Agile Digital Government

Progression of the digital disruptions throughout the years has left huge impacts in many sectors, one of them is in government sector. In a way, the digital disruption allows a more efficient engagement between citizen and governments through digital channels. In order to concentrate on citizen approach focusing on sustained and inclusive economic growth, governmental bodies can look into embracing technologies strategically that can serve as platforms to connect closer between the government and its citizen. Technological advancement would eventually prepare the government new opportunities and avenue to enhance the citizen live and wellbeing through available touch point enggagements in various digital channels.

Governments across the world are embracing architecture-driven transformation initiatives with a digital-first perspective. Digital technologies are changing the way citizen interactions are happening, with new rules and opportunities that were unthinkable a few years back. Government services delivered via multiple channels need to be coherent and provide a consistent experience. The adoption of such digital services requires a change in citizen behaviors and habits. Digital interactions force the evolution in culture with speed, decision-making methods, and rules, that may run counter to traditional way of doing things.

Figure 1:Digital Transformation of the Public Sector (Source: Based on OECD (2014), Recommendation of the Council on Digital Government Strategies)

Digital Enterprise Architecture (EA) was identified as one of the prime initiatives to drive establishment of a digital government. By aligning the business and ICT strategic goals, it accelerates the realisation of the Digital Government by increasing the business capabilities in a structured manner.

The need for Digital EA as a systematic approach in defining an organisation or enterprise across multiple domains is driven due to the fact that, systems are becoming more and more complex, costing organisations a significant amount of money to procure and maintain. When expensive technology system are not aligned with the business needs, there is very little to no value could be derived from them.

Digital EA is primarily designed to help to reduce technology complexity and cost, leading to increase in business value, productivity and capability. Ultimately, it helps to improve an enterprise’s competitiveness in the marketplace and designed to help enterprises gain competitive advantages through digital innovation. This can help the government to become more productive and agile, thus making them capable of delivering new and innovative services to its citizen in a timely manner. Digital EA is responsible in reinventing the enterprise’s current business and technology architectures to support digital innovation.

Governmental bodies should take advantage of the current digital momentum and lessons learned over the past two years from Covid19 pandemic to push forward on the path to becoming a truly digital enterprise and to thrive in a fast-changing and uncertain world. As Digital EA facilitates alignment among government agencies in driving their strategic business and technology direction towards realising agile digital government, it is highly critical for governmental bodies to leverage on Digital EA in driving continuous digital transformation to enhance the delivery of public services excellent for their citizens.