News

At the ‘Design Thinking in Action: Solving Problems, Inspiring Innovation’ session, Dr. AlKhajah highlighted the importance of embracing innovation in enhancing government services and quality, while creating more efficient service delivery methods and improving quality of life for citizens and residents. He added that innovation involves everything that contributes to the public good, enhances transparency, and promotes collaboration between government entities and the community.

Dr. AlKhajah said that design thinking is a user-centered approach, focusing on individual needs for problem-solving, creativity, and rapid implementation of processes. It involves a structured yet flexible method to address complex social challenges while creating value for the public. He noted that design thinking has significantly improved communication between government entities and the public, as evident in the provision of services, systems, and eChannels that meet user needs. This has led users to embrace of the comprehensive range of government eServices available through the National Portal, bahrain.bh, and other channels, enhancing digital literacy.

Dr. AlKhajah reviewed notable eServices and applications provided by the iGA, which have been instrumental in meeting user needs and offering better quality, including services related to ID cards;  Justice sector services, medical examinations for expatriates; notary services; the BeAware Bahrain app, and others. He highlighted the iGA’s continuous efforts to restructure eServices and applications, focusing on those which are of priority to the public.

He also spoke about the key challenges in implementing design thinking and embracing innovation, including resistance to change at the levels of both organizations and individuals, the inability of these entities to manage potential risks, limited resources, and a lack of required skills. He pointed out the importance of government support in Bahrain, which has helped create an environment conducive to innovation in the public and private sectors. This has facilitated the launch and adoption of distinguished digital initiatives, leveraging the preparedness of technical infrastructure, channels, laws, legislations, and policies supportive of digital transformation.

In conclusion, Dr. Zakariya mentioned the latest trends shaping the future of innovation and enhancing institutional readiness for change. These include moving towards digital transformation and integrating new technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain into operations and service delivery. He also discussed the development of digital skills, the provision of accurate data, the preparation of the environment, and innovation in cybersecurity. He affirmed the iGA’s commitment to achieving these goals in line with the Government Action Plan and directives from His Excellency Minister of Interior General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT). This commitment is manifested in a series of innovative programs and projects, such as the Technical Development Program, which are aimed at fostering specialized tech skills among Bahrainis and conducting surveys and studies that provide official and accurate data to support government innovation. The iGA works in partnership with all entities to continue implementing digital transformation processes and employing technology in sectors such as health, education, and customer service.

The Design Thinking Forum included a series of executive workshops and discussions on the adoption of innovation. It addressed important topics such as the basic principles of design thinking, the impact of digital innovation, and design thinking for a sustainable future.


#designthinking #innovation #AI #eservices #channels #apps #sustainability #digitaltransformation