From Bureaucracy to Efficiency: Unveiling the Challenges of Digitizing Administration in Germany
Introduction: The process of digitizing administration in Germany has been plagued by inefficiencies and bureaucratic challenges, resulting in costly projects that fail to deliver effective solutions. This article explores some of the common issues faced in the digitization process and sheds light on the need for improvements in government procurement, project management, and user experience.
Fragmented Approach to Digitization: Germany’s approach to digitizing administration often involves allocating a fixed sum for projects and publicly advertising them. However, a common problem arises when contracts are awarded to individuals with personal connections to higher-ranking bureaucrats. This nepotism often leads to cost overruns and delays as projects are outsourced to subpar IT service providers. Ultimately, the final products are often clunky frontends that require manual data entry by low-level clerks, defeating the purpose of digitization.