How do you develop a digitization strategy for a province with more than 125 experts? And that in just one week and completely virtual?
The province of Noord-Holland wants to take major steps in the field of digitization. This requires a solid strategy for the coming years. But with the Covid19-measures it is not possible to physically come together. That is why Noord-Holland decided to develop the new digital strategy completely online and asked Flatland to design, facilitate and visualize it in one compressed week, a pressure cooker.
Every strategy starts with a goal, a dot on the horizon
“Our dot on the horizon is a vision of the future in which ‘digital’ is in our DNA,” says Paul Strijp, advisor new technology and data at the Province of Noord-Holland. To get there, a conscious decision was made not to create a single digitization strategy for the entire concern, but a separate strategy for each provincial task.
Different tasks, but with the same core values and foundation. The province was looking for a way to work on these topics with many stakeholders, virtually and in a short time.
A fully prepared pressure cooker
We worked with more than 125 people to formulate all strategies and create a joint digitization strategy. We had to focus on the tasks, opportunities, different contexts and technologies. That meant a big challenge for everyone: to be complete and to realize all this in one week. A well-prepared program and facilitation made it a great success.
Digital yet dynamic
Every day consisted of a different program and with its own dynamics. The results of the previous day formed the input for the next day. Visual methods and short pitches ensured that newly engaged people were up-to-speed very quickly. In addition to organizing the event, Flatland’s visual strategist Simone Heemskerk also provided the content and the main threads of the strategy, together with the digi-strategists of the province.
Co-creating with different disciplines
Especially working together with all kinds of different colleagues provided a lot of mutual insight and understanding. People from ICT, data and technology were put together at the (virtual) table. “When they start talking to each other, the orientation of the technical people automatically broadens – from a traditional focus on business operations to a broader view from the perspective of social challenges.”
Fast and energetic
In addition to a new digitization strategy, the week also yielded a number of valuable lessons: “It is possible to develop a strategy for the entire group in one week,” says Strijp. “You are amazed by the energy that is released. Save yourself a journey of a year or even longer with task forces and strategy groups. Much more is possible digitally than we sometimes think – especially within the government! ”
The power of visualization
It turned out to be very valuable to see the strategy visualized along the way. Drawings stimulated the imagination, guidance and – literally – provided a shared image. Plus, the visualization greatly helped the week’s attention and energy. After all, nothing is more tiring than just watching talking heads for a week. Visual working methods ensured that many people could work on the same subjects at the same time. The visuals were then again a reason for a follow-up: is this complete and does everyone have the same image in mind?
View the strategy in 3D here!We summarized the whole of the digitization strategy in one visual. As a constant reminder to the dot on the horizon and convenient to share. And to stay in the spirit of digital developments, Flatland also made that visual in 3D.
We achieved a wonderful result in a pressure cooker with over 125 actively involved parties!
Paul Strijp advisor new technology and data at the Province of Noord-Holland
Paul Strijp looks back on the pressure cooker with satisfaction. “The Week of the Digitization Strategy was a true experience. And an amazing feeling of digital team building! ”
“Digital team building, that was certainly the case,” writes Hans van der Stelt, director of corporate affairs. “I would not have dared to think in advance that this could be done so well online. That says a lot about the excellent preparation, involvement of everyone, design and excellent supervision of the week, both technically, process-wise and substantively. ”
Bring your strategy to life!
Some visual results of the Week of the Digitization Strategy- Previous
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I did not dare to think in advance that this could be done so well online!
Hans van der Stelt Director Corporate Affairs at the Province of Noord-Holland
Michelle Geerlings
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