Digital Maturity Model

The Digital Maturity Model project, initiated in April 2021 by the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in collaboration with various stakeholders, is an ongoing endeavor aimed at addressing the digital transformation challenges faced by government organizations. This project comes in response to the diverse and complex issues that have hindered the progress of digitalization within government agencies, such as geographical disparities, unequal resource allocation, and limited opportunities. To bridge these gaps, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka took the initiative to develop a comprehensive Digital Maturity Model aligned with international best practices and standards, including the TM Forum and the Deloitte maturity model.

One of the primary motivations behind this project is the need to assess the digital maturity levels of different government organizations accurately. With services provided by these organizations varying significantly, understanding their digital maturity category is crucial for efficient digital transformation initiatives. This project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of industry experts, government officials, academics, and specialists with diverse domain knowledge.

The key challenge addressed by the Digital Maturity Model project is the sluggish pace of digital transformation within government organizations. The absence of a robust mechanism to evaluate digital maturity has hindered efforts to deliver connected and citizen-centric public services effectively. Consequently, the project set out with the following objectives:

Overall Objective: Facilitate digital transformation in the government sector by assessing the digital maturity and capabilities of government organizations.

Specific Objectives:

1. Develop a model to assess the level of digital maturity within government organizations and publish the maturity status of GoSL annually.

2. Introduce a mechanism enabling government organizations to understand their current digital maturity levels.

3. Identify gaps within the existing organizational structure that impede technological transformation.

4. Enable government organizations to expedite their digital transformation journeys.

5. Provide recommendations for achieving the next level of digital maturity.

The scope of the Digital Maturity Model project encompasses several critical components, including the formulation of the Digital Maturity Model itself, the development of maturity model assessments (both preliminary and deep assessments), the creation of assessment tools, and the conduct of assessments for 50 Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) organizations. Additionally, the project aims to implement the Digital Maturity Model in 500 government organizations and publish annual reports to track progress and share insights.

Currently, the project is being implemented in 21 identified Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) organizations. The success of this project hinges on the active involvement of various stakeholders and partners. Government organizations, industry consultants, government consultants, and academia all play crucial roles in shaping and implementing the Digital Maturity Model. Chief Digital Information Officers (CDIOs) and the consultants who contributed to formulating the model are integral parts of this collaborative effort.