• Head of IT Operations -...
• Technical Lead
• Senior Project Manager - Multi...
• Linux Administrator CONTRACT
• Support Analyst Programmer

Driving innovation in e-government

Hon Gary Nairn, Information Age

17/08/2007 15:04:44

One of the key lines in the popular movie Forrest Gump was "life is like a box of chocolates". So too is the world of innovation and e government, with lots of different shapes and flavours for us all to devour. You never know what you are going to get.

The Australian Government's box of chocolates is the e-Government Strategy - which is driven by the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), within the Department of Finance and Administration (Finance). AGIMO is delivering a coordinated and citizen driven focus to our e government initiatives.

The Australian Government has a responsibility to connect with all Australians and provide the services to support the expectations of citizens to access government in their preferred way.

Our success will be the result of the combined efforts of many government departments and agencies, the private sector, and specialist organisations such as the Australian Computer Society (ACS), to make these innovative services possible. Collectively we have the expertise to make government more responsive, innovative and accountable.

An increasing number of citizens are embracing australia.gov.au as a preferred means to interact with government with the site receiving over 500,000 visitors per month and growing. To ensure Australia remains at the forefront of e-government globally, the government will invest $42.4 million to transform australia.gov.au from a Web portal to the Australian Government's Online Service Point.

It will become the central online access point for government, linking citizens to personalised information and transactional services from across the Australian Government, and provide simple, convenient access to online information and services provided by all Australian Government agencies for citizens.

To deliver this innovation we must have the appropriate frameworks in place, including the Australian Government Architecture (AGA). Launched in June the AGA is an important milestone in providing a framework for government to provide better services to citizens and more effectively invest in government ICT capabilities.

The AGA contains a set of interrelated "reference models" designed to facilitate cross-agency analysis and the identification of duplicate investments gaps and opportunities for collaboration within and across agencies.

The AGA is based on the US Government's Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework, which has been adapted to suit the Australian Government environment. It will continue to evolve, with the experience of government agencies providing valuable feedback into the framework.

Being launched this month is the register of information and communication technology (ICT) management consultants, part of the government's ICT Investment Framework. The register will assist agencies source expert ICT consultants. While the use of the register will not be compulsory for government agencies, ICT consultants who wish to know more about the register should visit tenders.gov.au.

As we build the frameworks to support innovation into the future we find new ways to employ technology. For example, spatial data and supporting applications will be important tools in dealing with national issues such as water, climate change and other environmental challenges and opportunities.

Spatial data will be particularly important to the government's $126 million project to establish the Australian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation, which was announced by the Prime Minister at the Council of Australian Governments' meeting earlier this year.

The Centre's work will assist those most affected by climate change, such as farmers, businesses, and local governments better understand climate change, its impact, and how to develop responses to it.

While we are still to appreciate the full potential of spatial data, on the horizon are new Web 2.0 technologies that have the potential to revolutionise interactions between citizens and government.

One Web 2.0 technology that we are evaluating is government blogs. Blogs could speed up consultation and enable the government and other citizens to analyse and debate issues in reasonable detail. This could then lead to more informed policy and program development.

Through its formation of new policy government is often asked to use its procurement processes to stimulate the ICT sector in one way or another. The government has achieved this in a number of stages. In the late 1990s the direction was towards large-scale ICT outsourcing. Large contracts were granted to large firms such as IBM, EDS, CSC and Optus. Industry development including small-medium enterprise (SME) involvement was often a feature.

During the early 2000s as these contracts were renewed, it was common to see government agencies adopt a multi-source approach either as part of their original outsourcing cluster or as separate smaller contractors for just these agencies alone. Some larger agencies such as Centrelink stayed with largely an inhouse sourcing strategy using a variety of contracts for hardware, software and services.

More recently the government has reviewed its policy on intellectual property ownership arising out of contracted work. Government agencies are now placing greater recognition on the innovation and creativity that goes into the development of IP. The government also encourages agencies to be responsive to opportunities for commercial use and exploitation of IP, including by the private sector.

Beyond this I believe is a better collective understanding of what "value" means in the context of "value for money" is required. Value is more than just jobs and measuring the size of the ICT industry in pure revenue and profit terms. It is also more than just the number of bits, megahertz or pages per minute for the government procurement dollar.

The Australian Government is interested in innovation, skills and increasing the health of the relationships between the ICT sector and government personnel. How this is translated into the thinking and approach to certain procurement actions by government agencies will take some work and a shared understanding of how the additional value might look.

Increased value may mean that the ICT company or consortium has developed an innovative program to work with universities, National ICT Australia (NICTA) and/or the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to develop new technology or to create a new approach to skills development and retention. It could be a large company working with an SME to use the Australian ICT market as a springboard to its International customers.

It could be the creation of new IP in an Australian Government "package" of software to an existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that can be sold internationally. It could also involve having a greater understanding of the needs of the government agency and the flexibility to provide a service in an innovative way using a unique pricing model.

It could also be using emerging challenges such as climate change and water management as opportunities for government, research organisations such as NICTA and CSIRO and the ICT industry to spend time looking at the necessary solutions with a view to creating a sustainable competitive advantage for the ICT firms that are or could be involved in the supply, development and implementation of these systems in partnership with the government agencies that have been charged with the responsibility to build such systems.

To guide this ongoing discussion on value I have asked AGIMO, in conjunction with the Procurement Branch of the Finance, to initiate the preparation of guidance for both ICT Procurement Managers and the ICT industry on what could constitute increased value for the Australian Government and the ICT industry.

The Australian Government is actively involved in a dialogue with key ICT players such as the ACS and the ACS Foundation as well as other industry organisations and individual companies. AGIMO encourages this type of strategic discussion. I am hoping the guidance document on value will contribute to the increased awareness in government and the ICT industry of the opportunities available through this approach.

The 10-year Strategic Vision of the National ICT Industry Alliance (NICTIA), which was released in May, is also contributing to this discussion. The broad themes of the vision align well with the work being done by the ICT Capability in the Information Economy Working Group of the Government's Online and Communications Council.

This working group will continue to take into account NICTIA's vision, along with the views of other industry groups such as the ACS and Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

If we are to realise an innovation revolution in e-government we must ensure the nation has the skills to support ongoing innovation.

The shifts we have seen in the ICT industry workforce have been driven by broad economic, social and technological developments in Australia. While the future cannot be predicted, we can be certain that change will continue. We need to be prepared by understanding our current workforce, and through consideration of what it is we need from our workforce of the future.

The Australian Government's Management Advisory Committee's 2005 report on Managing and Sustaining the Australian Public Service Workforce, identified the ageing workforce, coupled with the need for an increasingly skilled workforce and areas of specific skill shortage, as major challenges facing the Australian Public Service (APS).

The challenges facing the APS from a shortage of ICT skills are exacerbated by the technology imperative in the modern APS. Both the community and government have increasing expectations about what ICT can deliver.

ICT professionals will need to be able to respond to citizen and customer demands for better service delivery and see things from the point of view of the end user. If we are to provide more choice to the Australian community, we must ensure that we have the people who understand, and can deliver on, what it is the Government and business plans for, and what the community wants and expects.

AGIMO recently launched a number of initiatives with industry partners to manage a predicted emerging imbalance between the supply and demand for professional employees in areas such as ICT.

These initiatives include Dell Australia's Women in Information Technology Mentoring (WITEM) program involving Centrelink, AGIMO and the Department of Education, Science and Training. This program is being conducted in partnership with private sector organisations. Its emphasis on increasing the number of women in ICT leadership positions reflects the importance of embracing the diversity of our workforce in planning to deal with skill shortages.

The APS has also initiated programmes aimed at promoting a career in ICT to school children and other young people. For example, in February 2007, the APS ICT apprenticeship programme commenced focusing on providing opportunities for young people to gain a nationally recognised qualification and a career in the APS.

The APS is also developing options for future programs to expand the apprenticeship program, establish a whole of government ICT cadetship program and is also investigating establishing school-based apprenticeships.

There is a challenge for the ICT industry to embrace these types of programs and to provide work-based incentives for young people to enter the industry.

Statistics from the National Report on Schooling in Australia published by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) show that between 1996 and 2006 the number of year 12 students enrolled in mathematics has increased by only 6.3 per cent, in science enrolments decreased by 2.1 per cent, and enrolments in technology subjects has increased by only 10.7 per cent.

A decline in numbers can also be seen at the tertiary level, where enrolments in ICT courses have decreased in some institutions by as much as 70 per cent over the last five years.

Much has been said about the need to change the focus of courses at the tertiary level and to include for example, a greater concentration on developing so-called soft skills. But perhaps there is a need for an earlier change of focus at the high school level to ensure that students are attracted to, and retain their interest in mathematics, science and information technology subjects?

There are many factors that contribute to this decline, such as negative perceptions of the ICT industry, negative media coverage such as work going offshore, parental concerns over job security, the history of the dotcom crash, Y2K and so on.

Industry organisations like the ACS and the AIIA, governments, business, and educational institutions need to work together to dispel these myths and to promote careers in ICT.

Consideration must also be given to what the nation needs. ICT is integral to increased productivity across the economy and contributes to 4.6 per cent of GDP, which is greater than the contributions from the agriculture, forestry, fishing, defence and education sectors. It is also a direct employer of an estimated half a million employees.

In order for ICT to continue to be the driver we need far greater productivity; employers must plan for and articulate the skills they will require and through greater engagement with the secondary and tertiary educational institutions, influence the design and promotion of ICT curricula.

Through a collaborative relationship between all interested parties, including the ACS, we will achieve these goals.

I am pleased to see the ACS delivering an effective voice for its members and ICT professionals in general, representing their views to government and the ICT industry. Its growing membership numbers is evidence of its value to ICT professionals.

I understand that ACS membership increased nationally by 6 per cent in 2006 and in the local ACT Branch increased by 15 per cent during the last 12 months - hopefully due in part to an increasing number of members from the APS.

The ACS Professional Partner Program (PPP) is a valuable ACS initiative that is helping to drive industry awareness and membership growth. I am pleased that Australian Government agencies have committed to the PPP, as, like all sectors of the ICT industry, the APS needs to continue its commitment to professionalism and professional development.

The value of the ACS as leader in the ICT community is evidenced through the expanding range of initiatives that it supports.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the role of the ACS in establishing, in conjunction with the Australian Information Industry Association, the Industry Leadership Group (ILG). The ILG replaces, and continues the important work commenced by the Government-initiated ICT Skills Foresighting Group.

I would also like to pay tribute to the officials that contribute to the strength of the Society. In particular, I would like to congratulate John Ridge, the Executive Director of the ACS Foundation on being awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the ICT industry and acknowledge the work of Dennis Furini who after seven years as Chief Executive Officer has announced his retirement.

Having like-minded and committed professionals in organisations such as the ACS enables us to work through these issues and grasp the opportunities and the benefits - for the economy, the delivery of services and the general well-being and cohesiveness of our communities.

Technology can be disruptive. It creates opportunity - forcing us to discard our old ways and through innovation find new ways to work and interact.

These challenges aren't beyond us!

The Hon Gary Nairn is Special Minister of State