National Digital Ecosystem
Progress Update
As the National Digital Ecosystem continues to progress and key milestones are being ticked off, we would like to provide our members and stakeholders with an update on where things are at.
A lot is happening behind the scenes
At times, it may appear that not a lot is happening. However, that does not mean that work is not progressing.
As you can imagine, across a federated organisation like Scouts Australia, there are many stakeholders – as well as many passionate members who want to see positive change. This means there is a significant amount of consultation and collaboration required.
At the same time, technical work continues in the background. There is no time to waste.
Before significant changes can be made, everything needs to be reviewed, agreed to by the relevant stakeholders, and endorsed by the National Operations Committee (NOC) and National Executive Committee (NEC). We also need to keep members informed as much as possible throughout the process.
Like any organisation, Scouts Australia has limited resources – both people and funding. This inevitably impacts timelines and what we are able to communicate at different stages.
When major strategic decisions are being made, there are many moving parts. At times, this can understandably lead to frustration across our membership.
Change takes time
We all recognise that change is needed to the current digital systems in operation. However, meaningful and sustainable change cannot happen overnight.
Patience is an important part of the process right now – frustrating as that may be.
It is important that National and Branches do not rush ahead independently to build or implement new systems before the appropriate decisions and processes are in place.
If we do, there is a real risk of creating systems that do not work together, duplicating effort, wasting limited resources and ultimately failing to deliver the outcomes our members need.
The key to successful digital transformation is not simply the technology. It is bringing people along on the journey.
Taking the time to consult, agree on the direction, establish the right processes and gain the necessary endorsements can sometimes make progress appear slow. However, doing this work properly at the beginning can make the overall transformation faster and more successful in the longer term.
Working Together
It is important that we do not independently introduce changes or implement systems outside the agreed process.
Doing so can lead to duplication, wasted resources and competing priorities. It can also distract the people who are currently working hard on the approved changes and initiatives.
There is already significant work underway, and we want to ensure that our collective efforts are focused on delivering a coordinated and sustainable National Digital Ecosystem.
Find out more
If you would like to learn more about the work underway, including the processes and controls that have been introduced to support the transformation, please visit the Digital Transformation webpage.
If you have further questions or would like more information, please contact: digitaltransformation@scouts.com.au
We will continue to share updates as the process moves forward.
Thank you for your patience, support and commitment as we work together to build a better digital future for Scouts Australia.
