Leadership is crucial

MIC emphasizes that success in digital transformation relies not just on technology but significantly on human resources, particularly the leadership. Leaders need to be proactive in becoming digitized, involved in the process, and directly use new technology applications.

Leaders hold the most influence within an organization, and should be knowledgeable, deeply understand internal issues, and know what their organizations need the most to address organizational challenges effectively. 

Leaders are not only the initiators, but they directly participate in the digital transformation process. They also must be the most knowledgeable person and must give specific requirements and tasks for digital technology firms to build products to solve problems. 

Once a product is developed, the leader must directly test it to ensure it can meet requirements and solve the problems, leading to broader adoption within their ministry or locality.

Piloting, choosing success, scaling up

For new and unprecedented problems, the most suggested model is piloting a trial program, followed by successful trial models on a larger scale.

Regarding ‘piloting’, ministries and provinces should launch a ‘sandbox’, or pilot digital transformation model, to be implemented on a small scale within specific sectors. The sandbox helps evaluate the feasibility of the model, its effectiveness, and responsiveness.

Choosing a successful model means analyzing the outcomes of the sandbox to find the most successful model which can suit real conditions. After that, it is necessary to improve the model for application on a larger scale.

The next key word is ‘popularity’, which means that after finding the most suitable model, it is necessary to popularize the model within the organization, and set regulations for mandatory application.

Defining key points

When carrying out digital transformation, it is necessary to find a key problem and solve the problem to have widespread impact and serve the public. From these breakthroughs, it is necessary expand to other fields and solve problems in these fields.

70-30 formula

Digital transformation doesn’t simply mean ‘applying digital technology’. It emphasizes changes and renovation. In digital transformation, transformation accounts for 70 percent of the process, while technology accounts for 30 percent. Therefore, it is necessary to complete the institutional regime to carry out transformation.

Data is the central point of digital transformation

Developing digital data should adhere to two principles: "Mandatory" and "100 percent." The former means putting data into the internet network. The officer who issues the ‘mandatory’ regulation must be the head of a ministry or branch, making it a binding regulation organization-wide.

This regulation must clearly outline the roles and responsibilities borne by organizations and individuals in data collection, creation, standardization, verification, and approval, with details about who does what, how, and within what time frame.

The data uploaded to digital platforms must be approved. The State’s data must be accurate to give a foundation for leaders to make decisions. 

With the "100 percent" principle, MIC explains that all essential data (100 percent) must be put online to ensure effective use.

In related news, Vietnam has ranked very high in e-government development for the first time.

According to the United Nations' 2024 E-Government Survey, Vietnam ranks 71st out of 193 countries, advancing 15 places from the 2022 evaluation. Vietnam's digital transformation efforts have been internationally recognized, prominently reflected in the country's leap in e-government ranking.

This marks Vietnam's first placement in the "very high" category for e-government development indicators, achieving its highest-ever position in the UN assessments since 2003.

With the outstanding ranking results, Vietnam has reached the target in e-government ranking set for 2024. 

In ASEAN, Vietnam surpassed Brunei, moving to 5th place, a one-notch improvement compared to 2022. Among 55 countries with lower-middle-income economies, Vietnam is one of only five with a 'very high' EGDI (E-Government Development Index) in 2024.

Vu The Binh, Vice Chair and General Secretary of the Vietnam Internet Network Association, commented that Vietnam's ascent in the UN EGDI report demonstrates the positive results of improvements in telecommunications-internet infrastructure, human resources, and online public services, which benefit both citizens and businesses.

Van Anh