The Dutch central government is highly dependent on ICT devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. SSC-ICT—the largest service provider—manages approximately 100,000 devices, a scale that pressures public finances, contributes to environmental degradation, and increases r
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The Dutch central government is highly dependent on ICT devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. SSC-ICT—the largest service provider—manages approximately 100,000 devices, a scale that pressures public finances, contributes to environmental degradation, and increases reliance on global supply chains involving critical raw materials and, at times, questionable labour conditions. Yet few mechanisms exist to transition toward a more sustainable device chain.
Over 20 ICT service providers support more than 160 government organisations, creating a fragmented landscape driven by compartmentalised ministries. While this diversity and specialisation can be a strength, the core issue is the lack of joint value creation. Stakeholders in procurement, usage, and disposal— policymakers, service providers, and users—often operate in isolation, with limited feedback loops or shared decision-making. Their distinct value orientations—firmness (policy clarity), feasibility (practical efficiency), and flexibility (adaptability)— form a linear chain where values are handed down rather than co developed, limiting mutual understanding and systemic improvement.
The goal is not to reduce fragmentation but to govern it more effectively by fostering structured collaboration based on clear roles, shared language, and active value negotiation. A dedicated platform enables this by combining technical features— such as BYOD and eSIM requests, clear task overviews, and CO₂ tracking—with integrated feedback mechanisms. Users can review policy documents, explore the chain, and select or decline assets and accessories, fostering both functional choice and emotional connection. Service providers gain real-time insights into preferences, lifespans, and behaviours, enabling profile-based asset allocation that matches device lifespans to employment terms. Policymakers receive a direct channel to share reports and supply chain updates, with user feedback informing more responsive policies.
This ongoing interaction transforms the system into a circular, collaborative model that prioritises transparency and shared responsibility, inspired by Montesquieu’s Trias Politica: policymakers as Legislative, service providers as Executive, and users as Judicial. In this model, firmness, feasibility, and flexibility coexist and are continuously renegotiated.
