Digital Modernization for Government: An Implementation Framework

Governments today increasingly face the challenge of how to integrate transformational digital technologies like artificial intelligence, while maintaining or modernizing legacy infrastructure and applications.

A close-up of a butterfly with vibrant orange and blue wings is set against a dynamic, abstract background. The scene features glowing bokeh lights and geometric network lines, creating a futuristic and magical atmosphere. The butterfly's delicate details are highlighted by the interplay of light and color. No visible text or numbers are present in the image.

By

Dr. Gregory S. Dawson

Accounting Analytics Professor

Arizona State University GregorySDawson@gmail.com

Dr. James S. Denford

Associate Professor and Head of the Management & Economics Department

Royal Military College of Canada (613)541-6000 x 6970 jim.denford@rmc.ca

Kevin C. Desouza

Professor, Business, Technology and Strategy

QUT Business School kevin.c.desouza@gmail.com

Marc E. Barda Picavet

Postdoctoral fellow in digital innovation and governance

School of Management, QUT Business School, Queensland University of Technology marc.bardapicavet@qut.edu.au

This challenge is compounded when officials seek to create value for the public from digital modernization when those technologies have evolved via different strategies, including “waterfall” approaches that often take longer to implement than “agile” approaches.

This report leverages interviews with government leaders, existing case studies, and prior research to create an evidence-based framework for digital modernization. The framework can help government leaders to innovate by harmonizing across multiple computing environments and transformation strategies, increasing effectiveness and efficiency to improve results for the public.

This report builds on multiple prior IBM Center reports by the authors that have helped government leaders to achieve success in technology implementation, including Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: A Maturity Model and A Roadmap for IT Modernization in Government. The report also contributes new research around agile government, adding to the content accessible to government leaders and stakeholders though the Agile Government Center (led by the National Academy of Public Administration in collaboration with the IBM Center).

We hope this report helps government leaders to improve their development and implementation of digital government.