"Authority Figures Advocate Against the Complete Automation of All Government Procedures" - Administrative processes not being digitized, explicitly stated by the Minister.
Minister of Reform criticizes unnecessary digitalization in administration
In an interview, Steffen Schuetz, the Digital Minister of Thuringia, voiced his opinion against the digitization of every administrative process. He argued that if a company has inefficient processes, they should either be reformed or abandoned. However, he expressed concern that inefficient processes in the public sector are often kept and even digitized.
Schuetz emphasized that the focus of the digitization process should predominantly revolve around examining and improving the work processes themselves. He stated the importance of clarifying which regulations and reporting obligations are crucial, what the state needs to provide, and what it should not.
According to the Bitkom State Index 2024, Thuringia performs worse in digitization compared to other federal states. The leading Hanseatic city of Hamburg scored 73.5 points, while Thuringia scored only 49.6. In the Germany Index of Digitization 2023 from the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Thuringia also scored relatively low.
Schuetz's plans for improving digitization in Thuringia, particularly in terms of reforming work processes and evaluating essential regulations and reporting obligations, were not detailed in the interview. However, such plans usually involve streamlining administrative processes, simplifying regulations, enhancing digital infrastructure, and promoting user-friendly digital solutions for businesses and citizens.
The Minister of Reform, Steffen Schuetz, advocated for a policy that prioritizes evaluating essential regulations and reporting obligations, focusing on work process reform within the community, rather than unnecessary digitalization in administration. This policy-and-legislation shift could be facilitated through vocational training programs aimed at improving digital skills, ensuring a more technologically competent workforce capable of streamlining processes and promoting user-friendly digital solutions. General news outlets may cover this issue as it reflects broader discussions in politics regarding the implementation and effectiveness of vocational training programs and digitalization policies.
