Boosting the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector
Norway has long used technology to streamline processes within the public sector and
bring the government closer to citizens and businesses. Now the country is going further,
seeking to transform its public sector through the full assimilation of digital technologies.
The goal is to make it more efficient, collaborative, user- and data-driven, and better
able to respond to the changing needs and expectations of citizens and businesses.
This review analyses the efforts under way and provides policy advice to support the
Norwegian government in implementing digital government.
Boosting the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector in Norway
Citizen-driven Public Policies
This Digital Government Review of Norway is designed to support the Norwegian government in harnessing digital technologies for more efficient, inclusive, open and citizen-driven public policies.
The review’s policy recommendations provide insights on important policy areas such as the governance of digital government, a strategic approach to commissioning digital goods and services, the development of digital skills inside public sector institutions, and developing a public sector that recognises the social, economic and strategic value of government data.
The review underlines the high digitalisation level of Norway’s economy and society, which creates favourable conditions for digital government within the public sector.
Capitalise on Achievements
The report urges the government to capitalise on the important results achieved so far to ensure the continuous contribution of digital government to public sector productivity, business innovation and social engagement in Norway.
Policy Recommendations
Norway should consider developing a dedicated and integrated digital government strategy
Develop a clearer and more structured governance framework for digital government, strengthening leadership and defining clearer roles
Ensure the regulatory framework favours the achievement of the Digital Agenda
Strengthen co-ordination with local government
Reinforce the role of the Digitisation Council (Digitaliseringsrådet)
Reinforce the applicability of general digital standards and guidelines
Leverage the use of the Agency for Public Management and eGovernment's (Difi) project management platform
Increase the priority assigned to the development of digital and data-related leadership and skills across the public sector
Establish an integrated service delivery policy within the new Digital Government Strategy
Consider prioritising the development of Norway’s role as promoter of crossborder services among Nordic and Baltic countries
Define a formal open government data strategy with private, public and third-sector actors
Simplify and streamline data sharing practices across the public sector to break down data silos
Define a roadmap for the development of a data-driven public sector
Norway is among the top ten OECD countries in relation to open government data. The index assesses governments’ efforts to implement open data in the three critical areas - Openness, Usefulness and Re-usability of government data.
Data for the index is taken from member countries and focuses on government efforts to ensure public sector data availability and accessibility and to spur a greater re-use. The Index is based on OECD methodology and the guidelines of the G8 OGD Charter.