A change in the public sector involves a series of challenges, such as a lack of adequate tools and a lack of alignment between employees. The development of an organizational culture guided by innovation and digital transformations is still an obstacle for many managers.
Despite this, it is possible to change this reality and this sector can indeed be a reference in agile processes, based on technology. Developing leadership and developing good planning are essential actions that must be applied to encourage innovation. Continue reading and find out more 5 ways to accelerate digital transformation in the public sphere!
How to drive change in the public sector
A 2022 survey conducted by business consultancy McKinsey & Company revealed that 78% of change efforts undertaken by public sector managers do not bring the expected results.
Among the reasons that lead to failure in corporate changes are the lack of committed leadership, the absence of clear priorities and employees' resistance to transformations.
One way to overcome these problems would be, according to McKinsey research, to combine engagement + tools to give that first impulse of change. Then, have consistency in the new practices adopted to then expand a organizational culture that feeds back the motivation of employees day after day.
Main challenges of change in the Brazilian public sector
Still according to the same survey, The challenges of changing organizational culture are even greater in the public sector. While in the public sphere, the changes proposed by managers presented an effectiveness rate of 22%, in the private sector this index was 30%.
In any case, we are talking about little effectiveness in terms of strategic results. And this has a lot to do not only with the employee resistance to change but, above all, with the attitude of leaders who have been “leaving something to be desired” when it comes to stimulating team engagement.
In addition to these factors, other challenges are related to tax problems, public distrust e workforce fatigue – elements highlighted in McKinsey research.
Added to this is the fact that many managers pointed out difficulties in dealing with the turnover high in companies. Of the leaders interviewed by McKinsey, 94% said they were facing at least one of these problems: labor shortages, incompatibility of skills and unavailability of schedules, in the case of jobs of a hybrid nature.
5 ways to manage change
McKinsey & Company's own report pointed out some possible paths to drive change in the public sector based on the pillars engagement + tools. Let's go to them.
1. Committed leadership
Every organizational change starts with committed leadership. Leaders need to be open to dialogue to understand the demands of employees and, thus, propose a more empathetic and horizontal relationship. It is no surprise that topics such as mental health and quality of life at work are gaining more and more space in the corporate world.
2. Clear purposes and priorities
It is not enough to implement a horizontal leadership culture if the company's purposes and priorities are not well defined. Only in this way is it possible to validate the fit between the parties and promote engagement in practice. Therefore, these two aspects need to be very clear.
3. Convincing communication
Clear, objective and convincing communication. This is essential for all departments of a public company to remain aligned and guided by the same goals. But remember: what is communicated in theory needs to be reflected in daily practice.
4. Ability to change
It is necessary to plan the feasibility of proposals before putting them into practice in the public sector. Defining priorities, testing new paths, knowing what tools are available are essential aspects to guide the path and ensure that the transformations really get off the ground.
5. Cadence and coordination in deliveries
Cadence, consistency e continuity These are very important words for implementing a new organizational culture. Results don’t come “overnight”, so it’s more important to be resilient along the way than to quickly give up on a promising idea because it didn’t work immediately.
Find out how Softplan transforms the public sector
The demands on public institutions are often numerous, at the same time that the availability of labor is generally reduced. In this context, Digital tools are great facilitators of change in this sector.
Having good technological support makes it easier to align the workforce with the new organizational culture. Specialized suppliers are also essential in this journey, as they provide resources tailored to the needs of each institution.
A softplan stands out in this scenario for having already developed a series of innovative solutions for companies operating in the public sector and seeking to effectively insert themselves into the context of digital transformation. Check out the main ones:
SAJ – Justice Automation Solutions
SAJ is a specialist platform for complete management of judicial and extrajudicial demands, optimizing daily tasks and streamlining procedures. All this from modern technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, user experience and mobility for Courts of Justice, Public Ministries, state and municipal Attorneys' Offices and Public Defender's Offices.
Management of digital administrative processes
Set of digital automation and process management solutions aimed at the public sector, focused on increasing efficiency, agility and transparency in public administration.
Such solutions allow eliminate excessive use of paper, optimizing the processing of processes and facilitating the work of public managers through the virtualization and automation of routines.
Among its features, the creation of personalized forms, integrated management of digital and physical processes, support for teleworking, secure remote access to documents and archival management tools stand out.
Additionally, it offers a citizen services portal, intuitive dashboards for work management and complete procedural management, promoting more efficient and civil administration.
Infrastructure
Set of integrated solutions for road infrastructure management and public works, unifying modules and systems to centralize information. Its features include mobile access for field work, georeferenced maps for detailed project visualization, and a portal for service requests.
In addition, it has advanced tools for managing contracts, budgets, expropriations, and measurements. These solutions also offer resources for the efficient management of externally financed projects, facilitating strategic management and decision making.
