CDOs in the Public Sector - Perspectives on Chief Digital Officers and Digital Transformation Strategies

This book explores the need for innovative approaches to administrative digitization, leveraging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and smart processes to meet citizens' expectations, with a particular focus on the role of Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) in driving successful digital transformations within public institutions. 
Administrative digitization requires fresh inputs to match the leaps seen in the industry sector, utilizing technologies like AI-driven automation, blockchain transactions, and security tools. Smart process solutions are seen as transformative in upholding service standards aligned with citizens' state expectations. Unlike commercial companies, collaboration offers those overseeing public sector digitization enhanced scaling opportunities by drawing from experiences in other regions and metropolises, directly applicable and reusable.
In the public realm, digital strategies mirror legal and social conditions, necessitating adjustments and adaptation options for Chief Digital Officers as they lead digital transformation. Methodological focal points in task structure redesign, process optimization, and motivating actors yield diverse action areas for the CDO's new role in public institutions. This book explores the instruments, strategies, and attitudes necessary to successfully implement transformative initiatives in organizations, emphasizing proven concepts with practical applicability, enabling readers to derive their own interaction options as digital guidance leaders. The book is a concise introduction to the specific requirements for visionary designers driving dynamic changes in user-centric public services.



Dr. Christian Schachtner is a professor of Business Informatics with focus on digitalization of public sector at the University of Applied Sciences RheinMain. He completed master's degree in European administrative management at the HWR Berlin. Subsequently, he completed his Ph.D. at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt at the Chair of Business Administration, Human Resources and Organization. In addition to 10 years of experience as a chief digital officer and manager in public administration and smart city affairs, he works as an in-house consultant, independent organizational consultant, and in adult education. His research focuses on public governance, smart city and regions, digital transformation, learning analytics, competency-based frameworks, upskilling, automated systems, and AI-based systems as well as data literacy. He is a member of the GFO and GI, and also a research fellow at Stein-Hardenberg Institute Berlin.