Align your Digital Technology Strategy with Government Priorities
UK Government Strategies in Digital Technology - Status and A Forward Look
In this Research Note we set ourselves the challenge of defining the current and evolving landscape of UK government strategies in the digital technology area.
At its core, we found that digital technology in government strategies is primarily comprised of AI, chips, cyber, data, digital, quantum computing and wireless. Government presented its priorities in these core components through strategies, plans and framework documents. Businesses can access these components through the impressive GOV UK search tool.
However, we found that these core components were not the full story for organisations developing their own digital technology strategy. That finding came from our understanding of the dependencies that digital technologies have in terms of their energy needs, the business sector that the organisation sits within, and the organisation's view of risk.
So, in our view organisations assessing their own digital technology future would do well to consider not only how its core components interact with related government strategies, but also its interactions with government strategies in other areas that may not seem immediately relevant. Examples of other such areas that could be beneficially included are government strategies on critical national infrastructure, electricity connections, energy security, environment, industry, heat use in buildings, industrial development, national and local planning, and infrastructure resilience.
Furthermore, in our view organisations should continuously review their digital technology strategies to check they remain robust in an ever-changing world. That offers the opportunity for organisations periodically checking government's progress implementing national strategies in both the core and additional impact areas.
Our listing of core digital technology government strategies: We considered 21 strategies developed by the UK government over the last five years. (See Table 1).
Core components: Core government digital technology strategies were formed of: AI, chips, cyber, data, digital, quantum computing and wireless all came through as the primary or core areas of government strategy.
Additional strategies: Each of the core government digital technology strategies could, in our opinion, have a strong interaction with other non-digital government strategies. Relevant non-digital government strategies were found to be: critical national infrastructure, electricity connections, energy security, environment, industry, heat use in buildings, industrial development, national and local planning, and infrastructure resilience.
Strategies often need to change: In our view, strategies often need to evolve and change over time, even when backed by significant risk assessments. Change can be forced by external factors such as step changes in technologies, such as in AI. Change of government may also change strategy direction, content, priorities and even lead to strategies being withdrawn. Even the 21 strategies we examined had been developed by four different UK governments, including the new government of July 2024. So, at Elcern we think it’s important for organisations to keep an eye on changes in government strategies, and hopefully our view of that landscape, condensed and in a single, easily accessible place will prove useful to organisations developing their own digital technology strategy.
Government strategy roadmap: Putting the list together was demanding in terms of searches on GOV.UK. Whilst GOV.UK is an impressive source, after extensive research we are yet to find a government roadmap pulling together the unique purpose of each strategy and its interactions with related strategies. Certain areas, notably AI and cyber, are complex with continuing government development of new and deeper documentation. So, without a roadmap it’s hard to know why certain areas are chosen for strategy development, what is in development and why, and what is to come.
Local strategies: During our review, we also noted that national strategies, plans and frameworks are often translated down into regional and city artefacts by local governments. That can leave organisations considering not only national, but regional/local government strategies for impact.
Developing your own strategy: So, when formulating or refreshing its digital technology strategy or considering a major digital investment, it could well be worth your organisation developing a deeper understanding of all relevant government strategies, particularly if your strategy or investment relies on significant financial or stakeholder support from government entities, or where your own strategy might support national or local government achieve theirs.
Getting involved: In addition to keeping an eye on national, regional and local digital technology strategies, plans and frameworks, we hope that our listings encourage our readers to consider a further step of responding to open government consultations to help future strategies support national interests. Such consultations are periodically announced through GOV UK. The government’s refresh of the Industrial Strategy (Table 1) is one such example.
Overall, it struck us that the digital technology strategy landscape is somewhat complicated, difficult and potentially confusing to research and compile in one place.
The complicated nature of these government frameworks provokes a key question. If your organisation is considering formulating or refreshing a strategy, or considering a major investment, is it immediately clear where you might interface with and potentially support a national, regional or local agenda?
We can help: At Elcern, we dedicate a significant amount of time to this subject, particularly on how organisations’ investments and strategies align to government strategies. We review and examine a multitude of UK national, regional, local, and city plans to forge a deep understanding of how organisations can align to government priorities. Our strategy listing above hopefully indicates our aim of helping companies find the right government strategies by our single, easily accessible listing.
Do let us know your thoughts on this evolving and exciting area.
It is important to remember that our list does not attempt a comprehensive coverage of all pertinent strategies, frameworks or plans. Readers should always conduct their own research and draw their own conclusions from the original documents.
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