The Studio 18 at the Urban Planning Sector recently organised a workshop on digital transformation, presented by engineer Nasser AbuQamar in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Planning engineer Turki Fahd al-Turki along with department heads and consultants.

Opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the government sector and the ways to implement the best practices were discussed. The event also covered professional project and programme management while analysing examples, innovations and trends.

Held as part of the ‘Knowledge Road Initiative’ by Studio 18, the workshop pointed out that digital transformation changes the mechanism of operations of organisations while delivering value to its stakeholders. “It's not just about adopting new technology; it's about rethinking business processes, culture, and customer experiences to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital world,” engineer AbuQamar said.

The sessions also discussed the key aspects of digital transformation and its benefits to organisations. “Digital transformation often requires a shift in mindset across an organisation, fostering a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous learning,” he said.

The workshop shed light on the best practices across the world in urban planning that integrate digital transformation and technology while stressing the need to make use of digital tools to ensure sustainable development and optimise land use.

Engineer AbuQamar, who explained the aspects of project and programme management, said managing projects in a coordinated way results in benefits. He also explained the project management methodologies and the roadmap to implementing the effective programme and project management.

“Clear vision and objectives, stakeholder engagement, risk management, governance and transparency are the key success factors in project and programme management,” he added.

The ‘Knowledge Road Initiative’ aims to connect communities and enable information sharing for the betterment of society. It promotes cooperation in the development sector and transmits good practices to the younger generations.