Digitisation and technology transforms governance

Digitisation has been one of the most powerful tools of transforming the functioning of governments and companies in modern times. China, Singapore and South Korea, the most dynamic and progressive economies of Asia, adopted digitisation in all their business activities and official work more than a few decades ago. Of course, the United States, Europe and Japan have all their official data digitised. This has brought about a revolutionary change in their functioning. India too is moving fast on digitisation.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister recently remarked that the government would adopt digitisation in all government departments. Chaotic politics and feeble economic conditions have taken the focus away from digitisation. It would demand a high priority if the government is serious in undertaking this effort in the prevailing environment. We are already late, as in everything else, and cannot afford to lose any more time in implementing a comprehensive national digitisation programme.

Moreover, there has to be an awareness in policymaking circles that governance is undergoing a major change as technology takes strides. Companies as well as the government have to adopt definitive measures as they comprehend and put into practice the functions of modern governance.

Although several industries, business concerns and even government departments have transitioned to digitisation, there are many yet that need to change. The effort of the government should be to encourage and facilitate the industrialists, businessmen and government functionaries to undertake digitisation seriously on their own and devise measures in the form of educating or coaxing those to enact this transformation.

The problem in Pakistan, as in many developing countries, is that persons in managerial positions are those who are old-school and uninitiated in these rapid technological changes and hold set ideas. The brighter side is that the younger cadre of officers, businessmen and entrepreneurs are more flexible, adaptive to new ideas and methods of working and accepting of technology and modern techniques of governance more readily. The tide is gradually turning in their favour.

The exponential spread of mobile phones in Pakistan is a classic example and demonstration of how this phenomenon is influencing our lives. The virtual and the real world are blending as the former is extending its spread into the physical.

In Pakistan, industry, businesses and several other fields of activity like education, healthcare, transportation and energy will have to eventually digitise. It is encouraging to note that many educational institutions, hospitals and state and private institutions have digitised their functioning and realise its benefits.

But much more has to be done as many businesses, industrial units and warehouses have reservations due to several reasons. Those who are hesitant to be transparent in their functioning or are too medieval in mindset are avoiding going online.

Interestingly, in the past few decades there has been a phenomenal increase in new technologies, and it is the convergence and blending of these that has given rise to synergies that had a transformational impact on how the world functions. The powerful microcomputers that are a part of every conceivable component or system can record, store and process data that is being used for a wide range of purposes. Computer power continues to grow exponentially helping in broadening and deepening our understanding of the universe. Organisations that leverage the speed of information and smarter technology to report and record important deliberations may soon find themselves doing better and faster than their predecessors. Technological advances in data collection and analytics have resulted in unprecedented amounts of data being available for decision-making. One of the major challenges facing a decision-maker is sifting through this data to optimise their functioning.

Cloud computing is another area from which many of our organisations or individuals are benefiting. The enormous volume of data generated by smart objects and subjects is safely stored by cloud computing.

It is now for us to shape the economic, scientific, political and social changes triggered by digitisation. But the conditions in our country presently seem to resist or are indifferent to any positive change. We are too involved in infighting, and good governance or sound practices are not our priority. Patronage has become a part of our culture and that determines how most of us function and relate to issues. Negativity in politics goes against good governance. Corruption, favouritism and incompetence bred on narrow nationalism or political and personal considerations all act as brakes on sound governance.

Certain government organisations and private enterprises have taken the task of digitisation seriously but many have not given the importance it deserves. Information technology is still considered a new field even though it has been in application for a few decades, and for some, computer science or technology hardly interests them.

For improving governance, it is essential that all related systems should be digitised and upgraded with modern systems and technology. It should also be ensured that these applications are economically viable and technologically feasible. This would greatly enhance the functioning of government departments and private sector enterprises and will be cost-effective in the long term. This would require well thought-out planning and investment and a team of professionals who are tech-savvy and dedicated to the task.

Governance is no more the same as it was in the past. Think for a moment: most of the things we did in the past either in government or business now need a different approach because of the speed and volume of information that keeps pouring in. Whereas digitisation and technological advances have given us enormous advantage and leverage, they have also increased the risks as multiple forces are simultaneously at play.

Digitisation is clearly one of the greatest tools of competitiveness in today’s global environment and should be given the importance it deserves at the organisational, institutional and national level. The remarkable spread of technology in every major field has impacted on every aspect of value chain whether it be procurement, production, price structure or human resource. And Pakistan cannot afford to be left behind.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2021.

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