Cabinet Paper - DIGITAL STRATEGY - GOVERNANCE

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Chair
CABINET ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

DIGITAL STRATEGY - PART A: GOVERNANCE

PROPOSAL

1. To seek agreement to the Digital Strategy governance and management framework to provide oversight and strategic co-ordination of Digital Strategy initiatives.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. In November 2004, Cabinet noted [CAB Min (04) 35/19 refers] responses to the draft Digital Strategy and the significant level of interest in it.  Cabinet supported a coordinated whole-of-government approach to implementation.  It also recognised the importance of harnessing broader local government, community and private sector support for its initiatives.
 
3. Growth and Innovation Framework Ministers have agreed a funding package for key Digital Strategy programmes.  Complementary funding has been secured in GIF contingency and vote baseline components.  A summary of the high-level funding package is provided in paragraphs 13 to 17 below.
 
4. This paper sets out the governance framework required to coordinate, implement and monitor Digital Strategy initiatives across multiple departments.
 
5. Consequently it is proposed to have a governance framework with roles for: the Minister for Information Technology and an ad hoc group of responsible “Digital Ministers” to make decisions on direction and implementation; an interdepartmental Steering Group of officials to advise and make recommendations on Digital Strategy and funding policy; an Advisory Group of interested stakeholders and participating government agency chief executives to provide advice on the strategic direction and focus of the Strategy; and a small Secretariat to support the funding process and the Advisory and Steering groups.
 
BACKGROUND
6. The Digital Strategy is being developed in three parts, and each part is or will be presented in a separate paper to the Economic Development Committee for approval. 
 
7. The following diagram outlines the three parts of the Strategy development and implementation.  This paper covers the shaded box, part A. [Please see Word version for a copy of the diagram]
 

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