Category: Legacy

  • A state machine for the state machine

    A state machine for the state machine

    Digital, data, and technology (DDaT) are being used to build shared platforms and infrastructure, and to improve the user experience of government services. But improving services within their current policy and administrative silos won’t achieve the “digital transformation” much spoken of and little delivered. Let’s step back briefly to 1996 to understand why. In July…

  • “Dysfunctional, damaging and sometimes dangerous”

    “Dysfunctional, damaging and sometimes dangerous”

    “Dysfunctional, damaging and sometimes dangerous” That’s how the Public Accounts Committee describes government technology in the press release that accompanies their latest report, “Challenges in implementing digital change“, published today. They found some encouraging signs that parts of government understand that digital isn’t about polishing and automating existing services, but that overall: “Departments have failed…

  • UK Government Platforms | Revisited

    UK Government Platforms | Revisited

    The UK Government was a platform pioneer. It was amongst the first to understand the potential of platforms in the design and delivery of public services—to improve how public service providers and users could interact with each other. Early in the move to put public sector information and services online, the UK recognised that many…

  • The political cost of legacy systems

    The political cost of legacy systems

    Passengers arriving at airports across the UK recently encountered irritating delays because of problems with the automatic eGates. One likely cause is the Home Office’s long-running programme to improve the safety, security and efficiency of the UK’s border by modernising its technology: while the eGates are not legacy technology, they rely on systems that are.…