CAF2020

Common Assessment Framework. See CAF Model.

Impacts are the effects and the consequences of possible and actual actions, interventions or policies in public, private and third sectors.

Digitalisation in a technical description is the process of converting analogue information into digital and computer readable data. Due to the rapid development of computer technology, Internet and social media digitalisation is changing society, business and public service delivery in many areas. Public sector organisations have to prepare their employees using the power of digitalisation to solve current problems or find new and more effective ways of service delivery. Measures in these areas can be defining a digitalisation strategy, training, guidelines for data protection, appointment of data protection officers etc. Digital competences refer to the confident and critical usage of the full range of digital technologies for information, communication and basic problem solving.

Digital transformation and innovation refer to a process of adopting digital tools and methods by an organisation, typically those that have either not been including the digital factor as part of their core activities or have not kept up with the pace of change in digital technologies. The practice of digital transformation in the public sector must also consider the public purpose and involve additional factors of ownership and retentionof public data (especially identity), data security and privacy, digital service accessibility for everyone and public digital literacy.

Agility refers to the ‘ability of an organisation to rapidly respond to change by adapting its initial stable configuration’. This practice helps to rapidly adapt to market and environmental changes in productive and cost-effective ways. This ability can be achieved through innovative methods such as scrum, kanban, lean, design thinking as well as supporting an ‘agile mindset’ on management and staff levels through customised training.

Innovation is the process of translating good ideas into new services, processes, tools, systems and human interaction. An organisation may be described as innovative when an existing task is performed in a way that is new to the workplace, or when the organisation offers customers a new service in a different way such as self-service via the Internet.

A public service organisation is any institution, service organisation or system, which is under the policy direction of and controlled by an elected government (national, federal, regional or local). It includes organisations that deal with development of policy and enforcement of law, i.e. matters that could not be regarded strictly as services.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are political objectives of the United Nations (UN) aimed at ensuring sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Key aspects of the objectives include advancing economic growth, reducing disparities in living standards, creating equal opportunities and sustainable management of natural resources that ensure ecosystem conservation and resilience.

Diversity relates to differences. It may refer to values, attitudes, culture, philosophy or religious convictions, knowledge, skills, experience and lifestyle between groups, or individuals within a group. It may also be on the basis of gender, national or ethnic origin, disability or age. In public administration a diverse organisation would be considered to be one which reflects the society and different needs of the customers and stakeholders it serves.