A glossary of information and communication technology (ICT) and public sector terms to help suppliers more credibly engage with government.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Policy | A set of principles or rules that guide decision-making and actions in a particular area or organisation. In the context of the Australian public sector, policies are guidelines created by government agencies that establish a framework for decision-making and actions by employees or the organisation as a whole. |
| Political | In Intermedium's analysis of the public sector, this includes the government's ICT agenda, including factors enabling or limiting the government's ability to implement this agenda and the possibility of a change of government or of leadership. |
| Poltical Digital Leadership | Elected officials who drive the adoption and implementation of digital technologies and strategies across the public sector. This includes developing policies, strategies, and initiatives that leverage digital solutions to improve government services, enhance citisen engagement, and drive economic growth through the digital economy. |
| Portable Storage | External data storage devices that can be easily connected to computers, laptops, or mobile devices and allow users to transfer, store and access digital files on the go. Examples of portable storage include USB flash drives, external hard drives, and memory cards. |
| Post-election budget | The first budget to be released following an election. Regardless of the winner, these tend to feature reduced New Policy Proposal ICT funding because discretionary funds will be redirected to fulfil pre-election promises. If the election resulted in a change of government then the expected value of new ICT initiatives funding will be even lower as the new government settles in and solidifies its reform agenda. Typically, a change of government will result in a period of relative policy inertia lasting around 18 months. |
| Pre-election budget | A budget released in the lead-up to an election. Typically features low New Policy Proposal ICT funding as governments will wish to minimise their discretionary spending in order to improve their bottom line and present themselves as sound economic managers. While some ICT initiatives may be featured as pre-election promises, government pre-election platforms tend to focus on front-line service delivery functions with minimal ICT components. |
| Premier | The premiers of the Australian states and territories are the heads of the executive governments in the six states of Australia. |
| Prequalified | Suppliers who have already been assessed and deemed eligible to provide certain goods or services to a government agency. This typically involves a process of evaluation and qualification, which may include criteria such as experience, capability, financial stability, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations. |
| Prequalified Tender | A procurement method where only suppliers who have been prequalified are invited to tender for the project. Prequalification involves an assessment of suppliers against certain criteria, such as experience, financial stability, technical expertise, and ability to deliver the required goods or services. Only those suppliers who meet the prequalification criteria are added to a register of prequalified suppliers, and are then invited to tender for relevant projects. |
| Prime Minister | The head of government and the highest-ranking political leader in the country. They are responsible for leading the government, setting its policy agenda, and representing the nation on the international stage. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General, who acts on behalf of the King of Australia, and is usually the leader of the political party or coalition that holds the majority in the House of Representatives. |