Advancing Digital Government: Integrating Open Source Software Enablement Indicators in Maturity Indexes

2023-04-01 · Source: cs.SE updates on arXiv.org · Field: Government & Public Sector — Digital Government & E-Government, Public Policy & Governance, Open Source Software · Depth: Expert, extended

Summary

A study analyzing Open Source Software (OSS) enablement in digital government across 16 digitally mature countries reveals that OSS, comprising 96% of modern software stacks and contributing between \$1.22-6.22 billion (supply side) and \$2.59-13.18 trillion (demand side) to GDP, is a strategic enabler for public sector digital transformation. The research, using qualitative desk research and interviews, found widespread policies facilitating OSS reuse for both inbound acquisition and outbound sharing, primarily governed by central public sector organizations. Key policy goals include interoperability, digital sovereignty, transparency, and cost efficiency, with security viewed as both a risk and a strength. Implementation is supported by diverse Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) at national, institutional, and local levels, which foster capacity building and resource pooling. The study proposes 14 indicators across policy incentives, design, implementation, and support to enhance international digital maturity frameworks.

Key takeaway

For Policy Makers and Consultants assessing digital government maturity, current international indexes often overlook comprehensive Open Source Software (OSS) indicators, risking missed opportunities in digital transformation. You should advocate for expanding these indexes to include robust OSS enablement metrics, establish dedicated Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs), and implement clear "open-by-default" policies to foster transparency, interoperability, and digital sovereignty. Prioritize cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure sustainable OSS adoption.

Key insights

Integrating comprehensive Open Source Software indicators into digital government maturity indexes is crucial for guiding public sector digital transformation.

Principles

• OSS is a strategic public good for digital transformation.
• Clear policy frameworks are essential for OSS adoption.
• Institutional support (OSPOs) drives effective OSS implementation.

Method

A qualitative multiple-case study analyzed policy documents and conducted semi-structured interviews across 16 digitally mature countries, synthesizing findings to propose 14 OSS enablement indicators.

In practice

• Establish Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) at national, regional, and local levels.
• Implement "open-by-default" policies for public sector software.
• Develop national software catalogues using standards like public-code.yml.

Topics

• Open-Source Software
• Digital Government
• Public Sector Policy
• Open-Source Program Offices
• Software Reuse
• Digital Sovereignty

Code references

• Forsakringskassan/riktlinje-oppenkallkod
• ibrahimhaddad/publications

Best for: Policy Maker, Consultant

Related on AIssential

• Public Sector Open Source Program Offices -- Archetypes for how to Grow (Common) Institutional Capabilities — Public sector OSPOs, categorized into six archetypes, are crucial for enabling OSS adoption and achieving strategic digital transformation goals.
• GDS weighs in on the NHS's decision to retreat from Open Source — Public sector code should remain open by default to foster scrutiny and reuse, avoiding costs of privatization.
• Building a mission-led government: Three essential actions for delivering lasting change — Governments must reclaim digital core sovereignty, enable composability, and leverage AI to achieve mission-led, citizen-focused outcomes.
• No Digital Public Infrastructure Without Redress — Scalable digital public infrastructure necessitates equally scalable and embedded redress mechanisms to maintain public trust.
• The Domain Shift: Moving Data Governance from Product Triage to Infrastructure Investment — Effective data governance shifts from product-level triage to systemic, domain-level infrastructure investment.
• Partnering with Latin American governments on 3 new AI initiatives — Strategic AI adoption in Latin America promises significant economic growth and improved public services.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by cs.SE updates on arXiv.org.