You get what you order: required expertise in the procurement of public services

Abstract

Technological developments have made the ongoing wave of digitalization possible. Digitization is about automating the production and utilization of information and redesigning processes. The design of intelligent and artificial intelligence-enabled systems requires an extension of the traditional design methods used by experts with engineering and information and communication technology (ICT) design backgrounds to a holistic understanding of human needs and the operating environment. Here, life-based design approach serves as a good tool for designing the necessary service processes and human-technology interaction (HTI) solutions. The Finnish government is investing in the digitization of public services. The problem with public digitization projects is the lack of resources in municipalities. This applies to the procurement process, design, and implementation of projects, leading to isolated systems and services without being developed in accordance with the enterprise architecture, digitalization, and service design roadmaps. The change in society and the need it creates for an achievable and sustainable system development require a new kind of investment in competence from procurement organizations. Common terminologies and process descriptions among experts in different fields will play an important role in defining and implementing large-scale multidisciplinary information systems. The development of sustainable and costeffective accessible public information systems and digital services usually requires procurement. This thesis examines the competencies required by procurement processes in public digitization projects. Keywords: aging, life-based design, human–technology interaction, digital wellbeing, procurement process