Dimension: 1.5.5 Digital technologies
This dimension concerns the digital technologies available to MPs and staff to support the conduct of their business, and to ensure public participation and access to information. For the purposes of this dimension, “digital technologies” refers to hardware, software, infrastructure and applications hosted both on the parliamentary premises and in the cloud.
For parliaments, digital transformation requires a clear strategic direction, including policies and plans, as well as strong ICT governance, leadership and oversight structures. Parliaments should not necessarily aim to acquire the most sophisticated technology, but instead focus on the technology that best enables MPs to conduct their business, and to communicate effectively with their constituencies.
In view of the threats to parliamentary information systems, parliaments should also prioritize cybersecurity. Measures, including user training, should be in place to protect the integrity of parliament’s digital assets, and to ensure that MPs and staff are able to conduct their work safely and without undue interference.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Strategic direction
Parliament has a clear strategic direction, including policies and plans, on the use of digital technologies.
No 2: Governance, leadership and oversight
Parliament has strong governance, leadership and oversight processes in place to support its digital transformation, ideally involving MPs. Digital technologies are introduced in line with parliament’s needs and strategies, and are constantly developed and consolidated.
No 3: Resources
The deployment of digital technologies is supported by dedicated and adequate financial and human resources. Parliament has a dedicated ICT budget, and the required hardware and software are accessible to all MPs and staff.
No 4: Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is prioritized in order to protect the integrity of parliament’s digital assets, and to ensure that MPs and staff are able to conduct their work safely and without undue interference. Cybersecurity systems and processes are robust, and use recognized standards and guidelines to proactively monitor and prevent attempts at unauthorized access to any part of the parliamentary digital estate.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Policies or plans on digital transformation and innovation
- Details of ICT governance, leadership and oversight structures, ideally involving MPs
- Details of a dedicated budget and staff for ICT and its management
- Evidence of alignment between ICT plans and the parliamentary mandate and/or strategies
- Details of cybersecurity infrastructure, and related reports
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), World e- Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. Report 2020 (2020)
- IPU, World e- Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. Report 2022 (2022)
- IPU, “IPU Innovation Tracker” (quarterly electronic bulletin from the Centre for Innovation in Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. )
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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