Public Administration in the Digital Transformation

Motivated employees. Tasks completed on time and digitally. And a satisfied public. All processes are defined by transparency and legitimacy – but also by sustainability and efficiency. Teams in public administration respond to change with agility and a proactive mindset.

Let’s embark on this journey together.

Principal & Partner

klein@imap-institut.de

+49 (0) 211 513 69 73 - 13

Projects

The Journey

Transformation processes in public administration are complex! They only succeed when structural and cultural change happen simultaneously – even when the scope is kept small.

Seemingly technical terms like “digitalisation” conceal what’s really at stake: people, structures, and processes. And behind every written process lies a lived cultural practice. Lasting change only emerges when all these elements work smoothly together.

Our holistic perspective on innovation, organisation, and people is what drives our success in the focus area “Rethinking Public Administration”.

The problem:

As a cornerstone of society, public administration plays a crucial role. Yet, the expectations it faces have changed significantly over recent decades. In many instances, its organisational structures, processes, and culture have struggled to keep up with these changes.

Due to demographic change and the shortage of skilled workers, the future viability of today’s administrative organisations is under scrutiny. Digitalisation and automation are certainly part of the solution. However, without systematic organisational development, they cannot be effective.

The requirements placed on administrations are rising and growing increasingly complex.

On the one hand, the line organisation is tasked with ensuring the ongoing stability of service delivery in accordance with established rules and standards.

At the same time, they must be able to identify technological and demographic trends early on, in order to respond adequately to the ever-changing needs and demands of their customers.

A high-performing and future-ready administration is therefore a complexity-appropriate, ambidextrous, and learning organisation that competently manages change and actively shapes it.

Its dual “operating system of the future” enables a combination of stability and agility that flexibly responds to dynamic changes and integrates innovation, while ensuring that established administrative tasks continue to be performed reliably and in compliance with regulations.

Flexible structures, iterative processes, and a diversity-oriented culture foster proactive mindsets and ways of working.

Innovations and digitalisation initiatives are implemented in a structured and time-limited manner through agile projects or task forces.

Interdisciplinary and cross-departmental teams, along with the active involvement of citizens and diverse cultural and organisational perspectives, enable public administration to meet the varied needs of its citizens.

The modern, high-performing, and learning community of the future is also characterised by effective vertical and horizontal collaboration capabilities.

The overall success is driven not only by the individual achievements of specific departments or participants but rather by the coordinated interplay between various departments as well as external actors and stakeholders. This collaboration creates a learning and interconnected administration capable of successfully implementing cross-departmental projects, optimally utilising expertise and diverse perspectives, and fostering comprehensive exchange through transparent communication.

Key components of sustainable transformation:

Our expertise covers a wide range of services that interlock seamlessly, enabling us to deliver an effective, holistic approach.

Defining goals and direction through strategy development

A clear strategy is the compass of every transformation initiative. We support public administrations in establishing this clarity and formulating concrete goals. Through thorough analyses and participatory workshops, we enable a structured decision-making and validation process. Involving relevant stakeholders ensures that the strategy is supported by a broad base.

Agile project management is a fundamental tool

Project management provides the essential framework to effectively guide change and to measure both progress and setbacks. To adequately address the complexity and interdependence of the administrative system, we employ thoughtful iterative cycles of implementation and reflection.

Becoming more effective and efficient through process optimisation

Efficient processes form the backbone of a high-performing administration – especially in areas where large volumes of data, repetitive processes, and numerous variants of similar procedures need to be managed. We analyse existing processes and identify opportunities for optimisation, including (but not limited to) leveraging the potential of digitalisation and automation.

Shaping future-ready structures through organisational development

Organisational design plays a central role in transformation. We analyse existing structures and processes and realign them according to strategy. Organisational structural determinants serve as an important vehicle to initiate cultural development processes. Our interventions ensure that cultural changes are supported by the new structures, and vice versa.

Empowering the leadership system

Leaders, alongside the redesigned organisational structure, are the key drivers of transformation. To effectively lead change, they often need to develop new methodological skills and, at times, enhance their soft skills. Our leadership programmes aim to equip leaders with the capabilities to thrive in complex and dynamic environments. Moreover, strengthening the leadership system frequently requires upskilling a broader group of employees who, through newly defined, proactive roles, contribute increasingly to leadership beyond formal managerial positions. For a leadership system to be truly effective, the relationship between the three dimensions — the organisation, its leaders, and its people — must be realigned.

Securing sustainability with change management

A clear strategy, agile project management, and addressing structures and processes are important, but without employee acceptance and engagement, there will be more setbacks than progress. We support public administrations in communicating change processes transparently and actively involving stakeholders.

Innovative collaboration methods through team development.

Teams bring greater manpower, a range of strengths, and diverse perspectives—making them the go-to solution for tackling complexity and driving change. Team development ensures that the full potential of modern teamwork is realised.

IMAP as a facilitator

IMAP offers a synergy of expert consulting and systemic organisational advice. In doing so, we take on the following roles:

Moderators of structured exchange

We foster mutual learning, as it shortens many loops and improvement cycles before, during, and after change. This can include exchanges not only within authorities but also between them.

Organising the architecture of change

Sometimes small steps lead to the goal faster and more effectively—but they must be taken continuously. This applies equally to process optimisation, culturally sensitive organisational development, and the renewal of the leadership system.

Connecting expertise silos

You are the expert in your services, while others specialise in IT and digitalisation. IMAP acts as a bridge and interpreter, with insights from both sides, thereby supporting your decision-making processes with external partners.

Empowerment

A guiding principle of systemic consulting is to provide help for self-help. Therefore, building the competence of your team is an important secondary goal in supporting change. Public administration should be able to reconnect sustainably with external developments and thus become a driver of internal transformation.

Sozialversicherung

Reorganisation & Change

Start 2023
Umfang € 1,2 Mio

Neugestaltung einer Abteilung mit mehr als 3000 Mitarbeitenden in 24 Dezernaten: Erstellung von Struktur- und Rollenkonzepten zur Optimierung von technischen Prozessen und Aufbauorganisation, Prozessbegleitung und Changemanagement

Bundesministerium

Prozesse & Digitalisierung

Start 2023
Umfang € 220 Tsd.

Begleitung von Modellkommunen zur Verbesserung der Ankunftsprozesse für Drittstaatler:innen durch Steigerung von Prozesseffizienz und Gewinnung von (Digital-) Kompetenzen.

Stadt in NRW

Organisationsdesign und -entwicklung

Start 2022
Umfang € 40 Tsd.

Entwicklung der Organisationsstruktur gemäß neuer Strategie, Vision, Mission

Berufsgenossenschaft

Führung & Agilität

Start 2020
Umfang 105.000 €

Führungskräfteentwicklung zu agilen Führungsmethoden in der digitalen Arbeitswelt

Our services at a glance:

We look forward to your inquiry

News

Change in Progress.

Was kommt unter der neuen Bundesregierung auf die Behörden zu?

Transformationsagenda für Bundesbehörden: im Koalitionsvertrag 2025 finden sich Impulse für Struktur, Führung und Kultur.

Public Administration in the Digital Transformation

The Journey

Our expertise covers a wide range of services that interlock seamlessly, enabling us to deliver an effective, holistic approach.

IMAP offers a synergy of expert consulting and systemic organisational advice. In doing so, we take on the following roles:

We look forward to your inquiry

News

Change in Progress.

Was kommt unter der neuen Bundesregierung auf die Behörden zu?

Wirkungsorientierung in Förderprogrammen: Anspruch, Pflicht – und Chance

Die Brücke – Theorie und Praxis in der Wirklichkeit von Organisationen.

Die Chancen von Vielfalt managen

Mehr Teamperformance durch gezielt diverse Zusammensetzung.

Best Practice: Behörden-Websites

Optimierte Front- und Backoffice-Prozesse

Die Kraft sozialer Arbeit durch Evaluation sichtbar machen

Hitzeaktionsplan für Hamm

Mut und Methode

Wirkmodell-Workshops

Pilotprojekt DiKo erfolgreich abgeschlossen – Broschüre verfügbar

Vielfalt am Arbeitsplatz

Neue Wege für die Jugendbeteiligung in Niedersachsen!

Check-up Wissensmanagement

Modellprojekt Ro-Diko

Digitalisierung – Potentiale kennen, Prioritäten klären

Digitalisierung und Prozessoptimierung von Ausländerbehörden

Zivilgesellschaften stärken

Fit for partnership – Georgian delegation supported by IMAP

Check-Up Kultur

Digitalisierung im Äthiopischen Kaffeesektor

Urban Mining Konzepte – mit Kreislaufwirtschaft Baustoffe wiederverwenden

Verbände entwickeln und professionalisieren

Momente der Öffnung

Die Stadt Köln treibt Wandel voran – IMAP unterstützt Erneuerung!

Meilenstein im neuen Beratungsfeld: Klimaschutz und Nachhaltigkeit bei IMAP

IMAP feiert wichtige Verstärkung

Modellprojekt zum kommunalen Integrationsmanagement erfolgreich abgeschlossen

Kulturwandel in der Verwaltung

Modellprojekt Komm.A

IMAP feiert erfolgreichen Projektabschluss: Vielfaltsorientierung in hessischen Kommunen

Krisen nutzen, Zukunft der Arbeit gestalten

Was darf man eigentlich noch sagen?

Mitten im Wandel: Wie man „New Work“ in die Verwaltung bringt

Starkes Wachstum bei IMAP

IMAP begleitet die Einführung der Leitlinien für Führung und Zusammenarbeit bei der Stadt Köln