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This blog post is part of a 4-part series on the future of digital innovation inspired by the 4th Public Sector Innovation Conference* held on the 8th March 2022 in London. The conference looked at the core principles of rapid digital transformation and adoption in the public sector, including interoperability, platforms, data, and emerging technologies. These blog posts are based on the notes I took during the event. Follow the hyperlinks below to explore specific themes:
Introductory post: what's the future of digital innovation? (link here)
Theme 1: We need to take care of the future through responsible innovation. (this post)
Theme 2: We need to break down organisational silos and promote joined-up thinking (link here)
Theme 3: Digital transformation requires initiating and embedding organisational culture change (link here).
Theme 4: The COVID-19 pandemic has helped us to rethink what is possible for digital innovation (to be posted 31.05.2022).
Promoting ethics and inclusivity in practice
Responsible
innovation is a term used to describe a process which promotes the development of new ideas, opportunities, or technologies that take into account the impacts on the environment and society.
There are different understandings and definitions of responsible innovation across (and within) different sectors. One definition considers responsible innovation to be a 'process that seeks to promote creativity and opportunities... that are socially desirable and undertaken in the public interest'. Others offer a broader definition: 'responsible innovation means taking care of the future through collective stewardship... and innovation in the present'.
One framework for responsible innovation suggests that this process involves anticipating, reflecting, and engaging on the wider ethical and societal impacts of a project or decision. This should involve anticipating problems (e.g., asking ‘What if?’ questions), reflecting on individual and collective motivations (e.g., ‘Why are we doing this? For who’s benefit?), and, when possible, actively involving members of the public and other stakeholders.
In an opening keynote to the conference, which marked International Women’s Day, Jacqueline de Rojas CBE (President of Digital Leaders) spoke about the importance of public sector organisations working in ethical and inclusive. Despite the widespread narrative around 'Tech4Good', technology can cause harm by driving inequalities, bias, and disproportionately impacting minority voices. Technology is just the enabler, it is powered by us and by every decision we make, so it is up to us to break the bias.
Accessibility is a key consideration here: does everyone have equal access to digital tools and platforms? If not, why not – are knowledge and skills gaps a barrier, and how can we overcome this? How can we consider inclusivity and accessibility when designing digital tools and platforms?
There is a lot that we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, which brought technology-related disparities sharply into focus and added urgency to the question of who is included/excluded in digital environments.
It’s important to think about who’s responsibility it
is to tackle inequalities and promote more responsible innovation. For example, does responsibility lie with government and the public sector, with private businesses, or community-led initiatives? As de Riojas
commented, it is everyone’s responsibility: the future of digital innovation
requires collective action to ensure that differences are celebrated and
embraced across the sector, and beyond.
‘Digital first, not digital only…’ - Jacqueline de Riojas
CBE (President of Digital Leaders).
Challenging the prevailling attitudes of 'digital-by-default', it's important to recognise that there is no single 'one-size-fits all' approach which guarantees success in every situation. Future strategies for digital innovation must carefully consider the balance and suitability of different digital, in-person, and hybrid approaches to suit the needs of different users and stakeholders.
Some of these concerns were echoed in the first panel discussion of the event, which was focused on innovating with platforms and included Paul Morrison (Director of Planning and Transformation, DLUHC), Laura Gilbert (Director of Data Science, 10 Downing Street) and Satpal Biant (Head of Public Sector at SAP). One panellist commented:
‘Data isn’t just about you, there are all these ripples around you’ - Paul Morrison (Director of Planning and Transformation, DLUHC).
These ‘ripples’ of impact can create complexity, uncertainty, and shades of grey. Understanding the wider societal impacts of technology is fundamental to the future of digital innovation.
The need for improved frameworks for responsible innovation, digital/data ethics, and best practice was highlighted. However, there are often key challenges which need to be addressed before frameworks for responsible and ethical practices can be considered. This should include considering whether particular technologies are a good 'fit' for solving a problem in the first place – ‘will it work in this situation? Why/why not? Is there a more suitable approach?’. It’s important for organisations to be open and honest about what is required, how technologies are being used, and how they are not being used.
One key question for the future is whether (and how) public sector organisations should consider these ‘responsible innovation’ issues, such as ethics in AI, or should they be purely profit- and skills-driven? Or are organisations increasingly recognising that ethics, inclusivity, and integrity are fundamental to achieving simultaneous social, economic, and environmental benefits?
As one panellist commented, ‘innovation should be at the heart of evolving society’. Arguably, society should also be at the heart of evolving innovation.
Issues surrounding digital innovation are not only technical but also ethical in nature. Technology is never neutral: we must consider the related inequalities, bias, and power imbalances which can have 'ripples' of impact on society. This needs to involve developing tools, mechanisms, frameworks, processes - as well as promoting shared understandings and principles for best practice - that help ensure data and data-driven technologies work for people and society.
*While these posts are inspired by the discussions at this conference, they are my personal interpretation of key themes and are not necessarily reflective of the event as a whole. I have also supported the points made by referencing additional sources and added my own reflections.