We’ve reached the final chapter in our exploration of the Digital Services Playbook with a principle that encapsulates the essence of modern, effective digital service delivery: “Default to Open.” This thirteenth and final play advocates for transparency, collaboration, and the sharing of resources wherever possible. By defaulting to open, digital services not only foster innovation and efficiency but also build trust with the public they serve. In this concluding blog post, we delve into the importance of openness in digital projects and how it shapes the future of public digital services.
The Principle of Openness
“Default to Open” encourages the practice of making source code, designs, and processes accessible to the widest possible audience. This openness has multiple facets, including open-source software, open standards, and open collaboration. The benefits of this approach are manifold:
- Fostering Innovation: Openness invites collaboration from a diverse community of developers, designers, and stakeholders, sparking innovation and creativity.
- Accelerating Development: Sharing resources and solutions can significantly speed up the development process, as teams can build upon existing work rather than starting from scratch.
- Enhancing Security: While it may seem counterintuitive, open-source projects can benefit from “many eyes” on the code, where vulnerabilities are more quickly identified and patched.
- Building Trust: By being transparent about how digital services are built and operate, agencies can build greater trust with users, ensuring that services are perceived as reliable and user-focused.
Implementing Openness in Digital Services
Adopting an open approach requires more than just making resources available; it involves cultivating an ecosystem where sharing and collaboration are valued. Here are some strategies to embrace openness:
- Open Source by Default: Where possible, use and contribute to open-source software. When developing new solutions, consider releasing them as open source to contribute to the community and benefit from collective improvements.
- Adopt Open Standards: Use open standards to ensure interoperability and flexibility, allowing digital services to integrate seamlessly with other services and systems.
- Encourage Collaboration: Create forums, working groups, and communities of practice that encourage sharing of ideas, solutions, and challenges, not just within your organization but across the public sector and with the public.
- Transparent Governance: Implement governance models that support openness, including clear licensing of open-source projects, documentation of processes, and public roadmaps of digital services.
Challenges and Considerations
While the push for openness offers numerous advantages, it also presents challenges, such as ensuring quality, managing contributions, and protecting sensitive information. Addressing these challenges requires clear guidelines, robust review processes, and a balance between openness and security.
The Future Is Open
As we conclude our series on the Digital Services Playbook, the call to “Default to Open” reminds us of the broader vision for digital services—one where openness, collaboration, and user-centricity are at the heart of public service delivery. Embracing this principle not only enhances the quality and effectiveness of digital services but also aligns with a commitment to transparency, equity, and public trust.
The journey through the Digital Services Playbook has illuminated the principles that can guide the successful delivery of government digital services. As we look to the future, it’s clear that the path forward is one marked by openness, agility, and a relentless focus on serving the public good. By adopting these practices, we can ensure that digital services continue to evolve, innovate, and meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
