Humor and digitalization: Henning Lühr is revolutionizing administration!

Humor and digitalization: Henning Lühr is revolutionizing administration!

As part of a lively discussion about humor in public service, Henning Lühr, honorary professor at the Institute for Digital Participation and former State Councilor in Bremen, recently shared his experiences and insights. During a community dinner in Lilienthal, he expressed that he has no favorite civil servant joke in his long professional life, as everyday life in the administration already has enough satirical elements to offer. “Today the public service reflects society better,” said Lühr, and it is refreshing to see that interactions in the offices have become more open and humorous. Weser-Kurier reports that Lühr has published a phrasebook with humorous terms from the administration, in which the term “Ländejumbo” can also be found - a loan that several Include federal states together.

But the humor isn't just for amusement. Lühr emphasizes that he has experienced the positive effects of humorous communication in his environment. An example: He prepared a seven-course meal for his colleagues, which not only fostered relationships but also ensured a harmonious working atmosphere. More than just laughing, he is concerned about the seriousness of public service and the need for reform.

The challenge of digitalization

A central topic that Lühr is dedicated to is digitalization in public administration. With its slow digitalization in this area, Germany only ranks 21st out of 27 EU states, which is mainly due to federalism and the high number of municipalities. He sees this challenge in the need to simplify administrative processes, for example through automated reporting of births to the child benefit offices. d-velop confirms that digitalization is seen as a significant opportunity to increase efficiency and improve satisfaction in the public service. Citizens benefit because their concerns are increasingly brought to the fore.

The current state of digitalization is still challenging despite the many opportunities. 80% of the difficulties are organizational, while only 20% are technical. Outdated systems often hinder the implementation of modern digital services. The need for a fundamental change in change management is becoming increasingly clear in order to engage employees and reduce fears.

A vision for the future

Lühr has already outlined plans for how, if he were to become chancellor, he would speak to citizens and clerks in a district administration to better understand their needs. His vision for a digital transformation of administration focuses on the specific needs of the population, and he sees libraries as key players in digital participation by being able to offer support with administrative issues.

According to Lühr, digitalization is not just a one-off event, but a continuous process that requires constant adaptation and training. In fact, digital transformation represents a transformation that also has historical roots. The term “digitalization” itself has been established since the mid-1980s. Wikipedia emphasizes that it is about transferring analog values ​​into digital formats, which in turn are available for electronic data processing. This development can be felt in many areas of life, from administration to health to education.

Overall, it shows that humor can build a bridge in administration, while digitalization is seen as an essential step in making public services future-proof. With his approach, Henning Lühr is an example of the impending transformation of public administration, which puts the citizen at the center and does not neglect human interaction.