Generation GovTech

Introduction

This post introduces a new term, Generation GovTech, or GenGT for short.

You’ll find a full description of this term below. To explain it fully, we’ll first cover the recruitment campaign by the Dutch Ministry of Defense: Generation D

Generation D

In 2022, the MoD launched the recruitment campaign Generation D. The campaign aimed to attract people with a specific mindset. This mindset includes individuals who want to do meaningful work, believe in cooperation, and seek personal growth.

The campaign’s core principle is admirable. In 2023, it won the Effie award for its strong message of a shared mindset. The numbers showed a 71% increase in web traffic and a 30% rise in job applications.

The campaign is worth examining due to its strong message, regardless of the Defense department context. It unifies people with a common goal. The impressive numbers highlight why the concept is compelling.

Initially aimed at young adults, the campaign has become a mindset not tied to age. It inspires anyone to work towards a common goal. This serves as a jumping-off point for Generation GovTech.

GovTech

GovTech describes technological initiatives and innovations within the government sector. Unlike Generation D, it wasn’t conceived as a mindset. However, it embodies core principles such as:

• Citizen-Centric Technology Solutions: Delivering technology solutions that improve citizens’ experiences and needs.
• Innovation in Public Services: Embracing digital transformation to enhance public services.
• Tech-Savvy Mindset: Attracting public service professionals to a community of tech-savvy peers.

GovTech gained traction around 2016, overtaking the term Civic Tech. This shift is linked to the rebranding of the Government Technology Agency in Singapore.

In the Netherlands, GovTech NL was launched in 2018 by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. It is now part of the GovTech Global Alliance, which rebranded from The Civtech Alliance.

In 2021, the City of The Hague and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations published a report on GovTech in the Netherlands. The report shows how the Netherlands fosters partnerships between innovators and public authorities, a trend named ‘GovTech.’

To achieve better partnerships between innovators and public authorities, we need cultural change. While organizations need to change, it is the people who make this happen.

Ecosystems & Mindset

To wrap up this introduction, people need to adopt a common mindset. Innovators can lead in adopting the GovTech mindset, but the goal is to establish better partnerships between innovators and public authorities.

Instead of adopting this mindset one ‘customer & vendor’ relationship at a time, we should work towards the entire ecosystem around public authorities. As more ecosystem members adopt the GovTech mindset, we shape a generation where GovTech is the common mindset.

Adoption of Generation GovTech

Adopting the Generation GovTech mindset has transformative potential. By focusing on citizen-centric public services, creating a transparent ecosystem, and advocating for change, we can unify people around this mindset.

To instigate this change, I propose the following actions as our common roadmap to make GovTech even more successful.

1. Vision and Goals

• Vision: Generation GovTech stands for innovation, efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centric services in public services.
• Goals: Inspire people to adopt this mindset and advocate for it within the public services space.

2. Engaging Stakeholders

• Engage Key Players: Involve public authorities and technology vendors. Form a coalition of champions passionate about GovTech.

3. Culture of Innovation

• Experiential Learning: Deliver often, fail safely, and learn by doing. Create safe spaces for innovation.
• Education and Training: Provide adequate support at all levels to enable innovation.

4. Inspire and Share Success

• Lead by Example: Celebrate success and inspire people to unify under the GovTech mindset.

5. Work with Iterative Steps

• Agile Practices: Demonstrate success in incremental steps. Show iterative success at a rapid pace. Make Generation GovTech part of daily practice.

6. Continuous Improvement

• Regular Reviews: Regularly review and refine strategies. High-paced innovation requires frequent reviews.

7. Build a Community

• Establish Networks: Create networks within the ecosystem. Encourage cross-department and cross-sector collaboration. Public authorities and technology vendors should promote innovation and share success stories.

Conclusion

Generation GovTech represents a transformative mindset for public services. By adopting this mindset, we can create a transparent, innovative, and citizen-centric ecosystem. Engaging stakeholders, fostering a culture of innovation, and working iteratively will drive this change. Continuous improvement and community building are essential to sustain this transformation. Together, we can shape a generation where GovTech is the common mindset, leading to better public services and stronger partnerships between innovators and public authorities.