The Hidden Barrier to Digital Transformation in the Public Sector

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 The Hidden Barrier to Digital Transformation in the Public Sector



In the public sector, IT professionals are often assigned additional non-IT duties, limiting their ability to focus on automation and computerization. As a result, digital transformation moves at a frustratingly slow pace.


Why Does This Happen?

  1. Workforce Shortages – Many government organizations are understaffed, leading to IT professionals being pulled into administrative, procurement, or even HR roles.
  2. Lack of Role Specialization – Instead of dedicating IT experts solely to technology-driven initiatives, they are tasked with unrelated responsibilities.
  3. Resistance to Change – Without a dedicated focus on IT, outdated manual processes persist, and automation struggles to gain traction.

Is This Good or Bad?

  • Bad for Progress: A distracted IT team cannot drive digital innovation effectively. Public services remain slow, inefficient, and prone to human error.
  • Bad for IT Professionals: Instead of sharpening their technical skills, they juggle unrelated tasks, limiting their career growth and expertise.
  • Bad for Public Sector Efficiency: Without proper automation, citizens and businesses continue to face unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

Impact on IT Professionals Like Me

Many IT professionals, including myself, have been assigned responsibilities outside their core expertise. Over time, I gained significant experience in public procurement—an entirely different field. Now, I am actively exploring career opportunities in public procurement, as my expertise has shifted due to my practical exposure.

What Needs to Change?

✔️ IT professionals should be allowed to focus solely on technology.
✔️ Public sector organizations must prioritize automation as a core strategy.
✔️ Leadership should recognize IT as a critical enabler, not an afterthought.

If we truly want a digitally advanced public sector, we must let IT professionals do what they do best—transform systems, automate processes, and drive innovation.

What do you think? Have you seen this challenge in your organization? Let’s discuss.

#DigitalTransformation #PublicSectorIT #Automation #PublicProcurement #CareerShift

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