Inside Singapore’s government team that kills its own products
Open Government Products founder Li Hongyi explains how things get built inside a bureaucracy
Singapore's Open Government Products (OGP) team, founded by the son of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, operates as a tech company within the public sector. OGP publishes detailed report cards on the products they develop, including usage, costs, and employee numbers, a level of disclosure rare even among private firms. Over 40 products have been created, such as the ParkingSG app and RedeemSG voucher system.
Building products in government can be slow, with many taking months to gain traction. OGP often exploits "bureaucratic vulnerabilities" to expedite development. For instance, ParkingSG doesn't require usernames or passwords, reducing the government's security burden by storing personal data on users' devices. Despite facing resistance, such as complaints over a public sports facilities booking platform in 2024, OGP remains committed to open communication and an open culture.
Unlike product management at private companies like Google, where small shade adjustments can lead to significant cost savings, OGP's approach emphasizes transparency, openness, and willingness to challenge conventional government practices, even if it means going against the grain.
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
