Digital by design is the principle by which digital technologies and data are leveraged to rethink and re‑engineer public processes, simplify procedures and create new channels of communication and engagement with public stakeholders (OECD, 2020). A digital-by-design approach is fundamental for the public sector to fully benefit from digital transformation and can support improved policymaking and public service delivery (OECD, 2020). Setting a strategic vision and clear mandate for digital government is a prerequisite to steer digital government initiatives, and for facilitating more effective and inclusive cross-sector collaboration. It is the dimension of the Digital Government Index on which SEA countries scored highest on average (Figure 5.1 and Figure 5.2).
The development and implementation of a National Digital Government Strategy (NDGS) is an important aspect of digital by design and can support a comprehensive mandate and strategic vision for digital government (OECD, 2014). Although all eight SEA countries and all 33 OECD Member countries for which data are available have an NDGS in place, not all these strategies incorporate a complete set of enablers to support their implementation in a consistent and well-supported manner. In the SEA region, all NDGS in place as of 2023 among the eight assessed countries specify a vision and outline, as well as overall objectives and priorities. However, only six strategies (75%) across the region specify timeframes for implementation and seven (88%) identify the actors responsible for executing the activities. Additionally, four strategies (50%) include key performance indicators, and three (38%) provide a funding framework for digital and data initiatives. Indonesia is the only SEA country with an NDGS that considers all evaluated enablers (Figure 5.4).
Organisational leadership and cross-government co-ordination are important in delivering digital government policies across the public sector, and dismantling silos that hamper digital transformation at the whole-of-government level. SEA countries have made progress in establishing appropriate institutional structures for the governance of digital government (Table 5.1). Regarding organisational leadership, all eight SEA countries for which data are available have mandated a public sector institution responsible for leading decisions on digital government at the central/federal level and co-ordinating their implementation. Across the OECD, all 33 countries for which data are available have a leading government institution in place, including all 4 OECD countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Regarding cross-government co‑ordination, all eight SEA countries have established a formal co-ordination body responsible for steering digital government policies and initiatives in the public sector, such as a council of Chief Information Officers. Thirty of 33 OECD countries have a formal co-ordination body in place, including all 4 OECD countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Digital by design also assesses the involvement of relevant stakeholders, including academia, the private sector and civil society, in designing and delivering digital policies and projects (OECD, 2021). Four out of eight SEA countries for which data are available have established an external advisory/consultation body for digital projects in the public sector (Table 5.1). Thailand and Indonesia have established formal external consultation bodies: the National Digital Economy and Society Council and the National ICT Council, respectively. Singapore and Viet Nam engage with external actors as part of the government's existing co‑ordination body. Overall, 15 of 33 OECD countries have either a formal external consultation body in place or engage with external actors as part of the government's existing co-ordination body.
