State government leaders involved with modernization had a conference exclusively for them at the 2023 Hawai‘i Digital Government Summit. The all-day conference, held at the Sheraton Waikiki on September 25, was filled with inspiring speakers. THG was the only nonprofit sponsor of this annual event.
THG had an exhibit table that invited attendees to share their thoughts on the question: “If the sky’s the limit, what would good government service delivery look like?” Many shared their responses written on cloud-shaped notes and posted on our poster. It was a way for everyone to dream big, unfettered by constraints and obstacles, and to think of the possibilities that modernization can offer.
Christine Sakuda, above left, served as the moderator of one of the breakout sessions on “Real Talk About Change Management” with government and private-sector leaders. Panelists, in the photo above, from left, included Dean Hazama, deputy director, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs; Sherri Okinaga, senior vice president, organizational effectiveness division manager for First Hawaiian Bank; and Douglas Murata, organizational change manager, Office of Enterprise Technology Services.
The panelists shared their insights on “The Why” — why having a clear change management strategy is so important to an organization’s ability to transform and deliver services to an ever-evolving and demanding constituent base. We discussed the importance of engaging each stakeholder group early on in the change initiative, so they are seen and heard.
The session also focused on the importance of leadership support for change and the importance of projects having dedicated change management resources. The session was standing room only, a positive indication that the topic of change management is on the minds of many of the state’s government practitioners. The panelists also shared practical change management tools that could help teams adapt to an ever-changing work landscape.
