Depicting Change Theory
Iran’s technological governance marks a new era of Islamic strength in the 21st century. It’s built on cultural identity and values, leading to just and clear governance. The plan is to blend digital technology with Iranian-Islamic culture and values. Iran’s rich history helps shape this digital change. It pushes for more tech use in government and public dealings. Our goal is to infuse Iranian-Islamic identity into digital spaces. This includes our cultural history in online systems and interactions. These core principles guide Iran’s digital journey. The Iranian digital transformation can be outlined through the lens of foundational and transformational elements as follows:
1. Foundations of Transformation
The Digital Realm
Human connections and technology growth have started a new chapter in civilization, changing life deeply. Science and technology have evolved fast, transforming how we live. Our nation, like others, faces challenges from these new changes. Life is becoming digital, with AI set to change the world more than ever before. The future is all about connection. Everything—people, animals, plants, objects—links together, defining life and direction. Since Prophet Adam, humans have reached new heights in how they interact and impact their environment. It’s like we’re navigating through alternate realities. In digitization, values meet technology. Value drives digitalization. Online, entities thrive or fail based on the value they provide, share, and take in.
This approach brings value closer to social, mental, and experiential realms, rendering it a concept intertwined with tangible and intangible aspects. When transformed into enduring beliefs and imaginations, personal and social experiences from interactions with phenomena and events translate into human and societal decisions. Hence, if the values acquired are harmonized with those inherent in human existence and derived from their creation, they will usher in tranquility for humanity.
If values don’t align, they cause stress and turmoil, common today. We see value as more than thoughts or experiences; it’s about deep faith and divine truths. Business and Technology must reflect core spiritual and religious values. The digital realm should be built on these values, influencing design and quality. Technology should enhance virtues like wisdom, fairness, and spirit.
Digital Governance
Governments need to align with today’s needs, focusing on harmony with the modern world. Outdated bureaucratic methods, once useful, now lag behind rapid digital shifts. Without updating these systems to match digital progress, the advantages of e-governance like efficiency, quickness, and openness remain out of reach. Hence, a fundamental reassessment of how governments engage with the public, define their missions, and manage processes is imperative for achieving optimal digital transformation.
2. Key Transformational Elements
Human Capital
At the heart of transformation lies human capital. Digital progress commences with empowering human resources, fostering development towards the future, and enhancing public trust and convenience. Efforts to nurture and empower human capital have manifested in two primary dimensions. first, there’s a focus on fostering expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), serving as the driving force behind the country’s digital evolution. Iran has many graduates in engineering and computer science. second there’s an emphasis on cultivating strategic policy and management sciences to guide the nation’s digital development and progress through precise planning. These two layers, next with core values that serve as the driving force, will propel progress forward.
Data-Centered Approach
The pervasive influence of technology has transformed every aspect of human life into data-driven systems. Today, data production and extraction encompass all levels of society, from macro to personal. In the policy arena, “data” also forms the foundation of technology-based transformation in service delivery. As such, initiatives aimed at data transformation and governance must align with the broader strategy for government intelligence. This entails establishing, integrating, or consolidating national databases in a manner that reflects the overarching goals of government transformation. With this noted, enacting the National Data and Information Management Law at the end of 2023 underscores the commitment to facilitate information exchange, streamline data storage and integration, and bolster security measures. Under this law, the Electronic Government interoperable Working Group is the central hub for facilitating information exchange across various sectors. In the last two years, with 20 billion transactions, paperwork has diminished with the rise of the “Electronic “ government
Electronic participation
The proliferation of information and communication technologies has eased and profiled people’s participation. As people are the basis for the government, they are the custodians of culture, fundamental values, and belief systems. Public involvement and consulting are essential to preserving societal cohesion in Islamic thought. For example, representatives from each geographical position are part of this paradigm. Digital platforms have redefined the nature of public engagement, facilitating involvement in problem identification, solution formulation, and implementation monitoring. Based on comparative studies of other countries and the United Nation’s reports in EDGI, the site “eparticipation.my.gov.ir”. Establishing the National Electronic Participation Portal underscores efforts to enhance governance and public satisfaction through citizen and business participation.
Moreover, the active involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has significantly contributed to transparency and citizen engagement in governance.
Secure Cloud Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a cornerstone of digital transformation in governance, offering enhanced security, interoperability, and cost-effectiveness. By leveraging cloud-based solutions, governments can ensure systems and data security while streamlining access to IT services and products. The shift towards cloud-based solutions is driven by the need for professional, scalable, and energy-efficient data centers that align with global best practices. Embracing cloud technology fosters innovation and productivity and lays the groundwork for a more innovative, efficient government.
Creating an appealing user experience for individuals, drawing inspiration from Iran’s architectural and natural heritage, will facilitate service delivery to the public. Upholding people’s privacy is a fundamental principle and value in Iran’s digital architecture, considered across user experience, data architecture, and the visual design of portals.
The future of the country and the quality of its virtual space are closely linked. A future without a virtual space aligned with the nation’s goals is unimaginable. The virtual space, encompassing all empowering elements, from science and politics to culture and security, serves as both a builder of the future and a reflection of the future within it. Upholding core values, human dignity, and justice in digitalizing processes and systems is not just a choice but a necessity.
Summary:
Towards Achieving facility, life-quality and welfare and Welfare
The transformation of the public sector aims to enhance the ease of life and promote the growth of businesses in the private and cooperative sectors. Each reform initiative should prioritize improving people’s quality of life and fostering public trust and tranquility to ensure long-term effectiveness.
The government has focused its vital strategic efforts on bolstering public trust. While the digital transformation policy and smart governance are primarily about increasing social capital, their practical implementation requires attention to all facets of governance.
Tranquility and Welfare
Wherever digitalization and virtual space (infrastructure, services, or platforms) exist in the country, the realization of fundamental values and Islamic values should be evident.
This necessitates thorough conceptualization, modeling, and precise planning to empower executive bodies and the public / private sectors to progress along this roadmap. Councils and centers should support this process.
The foundation of this planning lies in recognizing the inseparable relationship between culture and technology. The Islamic Revolution of Iran presents an alternative theory to the prevailing global order.
Progress within the Iranian-Islamic framework is not limited to mere material development. It encompasses both material and economic dimensions and spiritual and ethical dimensions, focusing on people’s welfare, the expansion of values, and the attainment of a virtuous life. The theory of progress and its governance in the Iranian-Islamic model aims to define and pursue progress across all domains.
This includes transforming the country’s semi-developed tradition into a reflective, issue-driven movement based on the context of Islamic Iran. Therefore, the technological evolution of executive bodies should serve as a conduit for realizing Islamic Revolutionary values such as justice and social welfare.
