Appraising the impact and role of platform models and Government as a Platform (GaaP) in UK Government public service reform: towards a Platform Assessment Framework (PAF)

The concept of “Government as a Platform” (GaaP) (O'Reilly, 2009) is coined frequently, but interpreted inconsistently: views of GaaP as being solely about technology and the building of technical components ignore GaaP's radical and disruptive embrace of a new economic and organisational model with the potential to improve the way Government operates – helping resolve the binary political debate about centralised versus localised models of public service delivery. We offer a structured approach to the application of the platforms that underpin GaaP, encompassing not only their technical architecture, but also the other essential aspects of market dynamics and organisational form. Based on a review of information systems platforms literature, we develop a Platform Appraisal Framework (PAF) incorporating the various dimensions that characterise business models based on digital platforms. We propose this PAF as a general contribution to the strategy and audit of platform initiatives and more specifically as an assessment framework to provide consistency of thinking in GaaP initiatives. We demonstrate the utility of our PAF by applying it to UK Government platform initiatives over two distinct periods, 1999–2010 and 2010 to the present day, drawing practical conclusions concerning implementation of platforms within the unique and complex environment of the public sector.Non

A tale of two countries: the digital disruption of government

To understand the gap between political aspiration and reality – and, more importantly, how it can begin to be fixed – we explore the experience of two Parliamentary-system governments and their attempts to use technology to reform and modernise their services since the 1990s. The United Kingdom and Australia offer interesting insights into administrations that have long seen the opportunity to be seized, but which have repeatedly struggled to deliver the scale of improvement required in the way their public services are designed, operated and maintained

Digitizing Government

Digitizing Government provides practical advice for understanding and implementing digital transformation to increase business value and improve client engagement

Digitizing government: understanding and implementing new digital business models

For businesses large and small, investment in digital technologies is now a priority essential for success. This book provides practical advice for understanding and implementing digital transformation to increase business value and improve client engagement. This book is organized into "why", "what", and "how" sections and examines the major elements of digital transformation, with clear steps for improved execution of digital strategies. It features case studies from the private and public sectors, and a detailed chronology of digital change efforts across the UK government sector, and relates that to government efforts in the USA and around the world. It provides a practical and unique set of insights into business in the digital economy

Digitizing Government

Digitizing Government provides practical advice for understanding and implementing digital transformation to increase business value and improve client engagement

Appraising the impact and role of platform models and Government as a Platform (GaaP) in UK Government public service reform: Towards a Platform Assessment Framework (PAF)

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.The concept of “Government as a Platform” (GaaP) (O'Reilly, 2009) is coined frequently, but interpreted inconsistently: views of GaaP as being solely about technology and the building of technical components ignore GaaP's radical and disruptive embrace of a new economic and organisational model with the potential to improve the way Government operates – helping resolve the binary political debate about centralised versus localised models of public service delivery. We offer a structured approach to the application of the platforms that underpin GaaP, encompassing not only their technical architecture, but also the other essential aspects of market dynamics and organisational form. Based on a review of information systems platforms literature, we develop a Platform Appraisal Framework (PAF) incorporating the various dimensions that characterise business models based on digital platforms. We propose this PAF as a general contribution to the strategy and audit of platform initiatives and more specifically as an assessment framework to provide consistency of thinking in GaaP initiatives. We demonstrate the utility of our PAF by applying it to UK Government platform initiatives over two distinct periods, 1999–2010 and 2010 to the present day, drawing practical conclusions concerning implementation of platforms within the unique and complex environment of the public sector