Make Department Smart, First

The Hindu     24th September 2021     Save    

Context: The success of Smart Cities depends on making departments smart through digitization. 

Smart cities: Future of urbanisation

  • Data driven cities: Smart cities depend on digital systems which enable the use of data, generated by people living and working in the city itself, to continuously improve how the city functions.
  • Smart infrastructure: Which is capable of generating good data generated by default. 
    

Way forward: Take one step at a time – Towards smart departments

  • Digitisation of process:
    • Behavioural change: Local government employees have to switch from pen and paper and records to digital tools and systems.
    • This shall not be a post-facto data entry exercise (Initially records are kept on paper then get digitized), which creates scope for errors and manipulation.
  • Effective human resource management in transition: City leaders must use a combination of expectation-setting and incentives.
    • Leaders should apply phased targets for adoption of the new tools, and ensure adequate technical support and education for employees during the transition.
  • Citizen centricity lever: Adoption of e-governance tools should not only be reduced to performance management exercise but it should be reflected in better experience and empowerment for citizens.

ConclusionSmart cities will emerge, from the organic collaboration between departments, employees, and citizens not from the top-down approach and departments are basic building blocks in converting a normal city to a smart city.