This is lesson 4 in the boot camp 'Continue being digital in the Canadian public service: Technology', created in collaboration with the Ontario Digital Service.

How to complete this lesson

Each activity you complete beyond the required reading is worth 5 points. The more points you collect, the higher the level you reach. When you reach the end of the lesson, tally how many points you’ve earned, and download the correct badge. Your certificate of completion for this Technology course will indicate which level you achieved.

Required

Article: 10 minutes

Read this article from Apolitical, Let’s 'think different' about procurement. (10 min read)

Suggested

Additional reading: 5 points

Select one of the following articles to take your learning further:

5-minute conversation: 5 points

During the next week, take 5 minutes to reflect on these discussion questions. You can reflect with a colleague, or you can share your thoughts on our Slack channel.

  • How confident are you that the procurement process can change in the next 2 years, the next 5 years, or the next 7 years?
  • What do you think the ideal state might look like when thinking about the procurement process? Is it still a single process? Is it more tied into the digital product development cycle?
  • How might we reach it?

Homework - 5-minute activity: 5 points

Last week, you were asked to take a look at the article: ‘Six ways that public servants can develop their empathy'

This week, choose a different item to focus on for the throughout the week:

  • Practice active listening
  • Understand yourself
  • Be patient
  • Track your progress
  • Step into their shoes
  • Use art

Poll question: 5 points

Next week we explore open source. Open source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.

What are the one or two words that come to mind when you hear the term ‘open source’? Share your response using this form, and we will use the words to make a word cloud to share next week.

Congratulations! You’ve completed this lesson of the boot camp. Count up how many points you’ve earned, and click to download your badge. You can share your badge on social media, and tag @apoliticalco to show off your progress.

Digital Technology Seeker (Required Activity)

Digital Technology Explorer (5 Points)

Digital Technology Adventurer (10 Points)

Digital Technology Intrepid (15 Points)

Digital Technology Heroic (20-30 Points)

Results of last week's poll question

In Lesson 3, we asked "Next week we examine what needs to change in the procurement process so that the government can be more agile and responsive. What do you see as being the main issue associated with procurement that needs to be overcome?

Here's what you said (to the nearest percent):
27%: A. It is too slow
5%: B. It is not transparent
47%: C. The procurement process is not agile itself
18%: D. The process is too hierarchical
2%: E. Issues with fairness
1:% F. Other

Picture credit: Unsplash

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