Lifting the Limitations: Enabling Data-Driven Decision-Making in Government
Governments globally are increasingly focused on harnessing insights from data to enhance decision-making. At an online roundtable hosted by Global Government Forum, senior civil servants from 10 countries, including the UK, Estonia, India, Ghana, Mexico, and representatives from the European Commission, shared their experiences and strategies to boost productivity through better use of data and AI.
The Promise of Data and AI
Data and artificial intelligence offer significant potential to help governments make faster and more informed decisions. As one senior public servant expressed:
“We are trying hard to let our people know that without [data], decision-making is very limited. I mean, you can’t make an informed decision if you don’t have the information to make it.”
Challenges in Embedding Evidence-Based Practices
Despite the promise, many governments still face hurdles before evidence-based decision-making becomes standard practice internally. The roundtable explored enablers and barriers such as:
- The need to use data not only to inform decisions but also to evaluate their outcomes.
- Varying levels of confidence among senior officials regarding the reliability of decisions made within their organizations.
- The importance of fostering a culture that values data-driven insights and supports the necessary processes and infrastructure.
Insights from Diverse Perspectives
The event, conducted under the Chatham House Rule to encourage openness, revealed a range of views on how best to embed data and AI into government workflows effectively. Participants emphasized the ongoing work required to realize the full benefits of these technologies in public decision-making.
Overall, the discussion underscored that while progress is underway, governments must continue addressing internal and cultural challenges to unlock the true potential of data-driven governance.
Author's summary: Governments are progressively adopting data and AI to improve decisions, but widespread embedding of evidence-based practices requires overcoming cultural and process challenges, as revealed by senior officials worldwide.