Page 43 - EngineerIT January 2022

INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND INNOVATION

DSI DEPLORES INTIMIDATION OF SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

he Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has noted
with concern the numerous media reports of leading
Tscientists and researchers coming under attack from
members of the public.
With over 5 million deaths due COVID-19 globally, and no signs
of the pandemic dissipating, the work of scientists in conducting
research and sharing this knowledge is vital for saving lives and
trying to bring an end to the pandemic.
The DSI calls on the public to support members of the scientific
community for the sterling work they have been doing since the
outbreak of the pandemic in 2019 – and not to vilify, threaten or
seek to intimidate them.
As the deadly virus continues to mutate and spread throughout
the country and the world, the value of scientific research in you, particularly people at increased risk of severe illness from
tackling the virus head-on cannot be overstated. The only way to COVID-19.
contain COVID-19 is through establishing accurate scientific facts It should also be stressed that, once you are fully vaccinated for
and communicating this information on a regular basis. COVID-19, you may be able to resume some of the activities you
South African scientists have been at the forefront of the had to stop due to the pandemic. For example, you can spend time
global battle against COVID19, working tirelessly to ensure that with larger groups of friends, family and loved ones who are also
populations not only in South Africa, but in the rest of Africa and fully vaccinated.
the world over, are safe. Twice already, first with the Beta variant The DSI has been supporting the scientific community to help
and more recently with Omicron, South African scientists have the government respond to the pandemic to make sure that our
been the first to discover new mutations of the virus. people are safe. As a department, we have provided funding for
We would also like to remind the public that it is through genomic surveillance that enables scientists to detect new variants,
scientific research that vaccines have been successfully developed and supported biotechnology companies to manufacture test kits
and manufactured. These vaccines have proven to be safe and locally instead of relying on imports which are in short supply
largely effective in preventing COVID-19 fatalities. Being vaccinated globally. More importantly, the department is investing in scientific
also reduces your risk of serious infection if you do contract infrastructure to ensure that, as a country and continent, we are
COVID-19 and may also protect your loved ones and others around able to manufacture our own vaccines.

Gartner predicts, at least 85% of governments without a total

experience strategy by 2023 will fail to transform services

y 2023, at least 85% of governments a siloed approach to a cohesive strategy encompassing employee experience and citizen
without a total experience (TX) strategy experiences across multiple platforms, channels and technologies in the most intuitive user
Bwill fail to successfully transform experience. This can drive digital adoption, improve outcomes and mitigate the effects of
government services, according to Gartner. underwhelming service experience which can otherwise lead to a failure of government’s
Governments that continue to focus on digital transformation initiatives.”
citizen and employee experience initiatives A TX approach combines the disciplines of user experience (UX), citizen experience (CX),
separately will miss out on essential synergies employee experience (EX) and multi-experience (MX) into one holistic approach toward service
to effectively transform their services. design and delivery. A TX strategy ensures that resources across CX, EX, UX and MX disciplines
“Over the past two years, most collaborate to uncover new opportunities for improved service delivery that increases both
governments increased their investments citizen and employee satisfaction and improves the government’s mission outcomes.
in digital initiatives to respond to “Government CIOs need to prioritise investments in capabilities that can be leveraged
pandemic-induced operations disruptions. by both employees and citizens. For example, using “voice of the citizen” and “voice of the
However, many digital initiatives are employee” input to identify common pain points and, therefore, potential to refine the
still occurring in silos,” said Apeksha experiences for both through one initiative. CIOs need to focus on supporting effortless
Kaushik, principal research analyst at experience across multiple touchpoints by linking datasets,as digital solutions can help
Gartner. “Governments must move from employees be more citizen-centric and improve overall governance,” said Kaushik.

EngineerIT | January 2022 | 41