The Government Digital Service (GDS) has come under criticism from a consultancy firm, which accuses it of being too rigid and bureaucratic. The firm argues that the GDS’s insistence on controlling all aspects of government IT projects stifles innovation and prevents departments from making their own decisions. The firm also suggests that the GDS’s approach has led to an over-reliance on a small number of suppliers, which creates a risk of vendor lock-in.
The consultancy firm proposes a more decentralised approach, whereby individual departments would have greater autonomy over their IT projects. This would allow for more flexibility and innovation, and would also reduce the risk of vendor lock-in. The firm believes that such an approach would lead to better outcomes for both the government and its citizens.
Despite these criticisms, the GDS has its defenders. Some argue that the GDS’s centralised approach is necessary to ensure consistency and quality across all government IT projects. They also point out that the GDS has made significant progress in digitising government services, and that its approach has been widely emulated by other countries.
In response to the consultancy firm’s criticisms, the GDS has stated that it is always open to feedback and is constantly seeking to improve its processes. It has also reiterated its commitment to delivering high-quality digital services for the government and its citizens.
Go to source article: http://blog.gardeviance.org/2015/04/consultancy-takes-swipe-at-gds.html