The Big Story

Escaping the spreadsheet nightmare: A government leader's guide to smart BI decisions

How to spot and avoid the hidden costs, compliance traps, and strategic decisions for a successful digital transformation.

Picture this: It's Monday morning, and your team is scrambling with three different spreadsheets to create a simple monthly report. Sound familiar? You're trapped in "spreadsheet prison"—and Microsoft's "free" Power BI might just be a more expensive cell.

Here's the catch: Power BI comes "free" with your E3 license, but only for personal use. Want to share that brilliant dashboard you just built? The meter starts running fast:

• Internal sharing requires Power BI Pro (additional monthly cost per user)

• Enhanced features need Power BI Premium (even higher monthly fees)

• Full experience means upgrading to E5 licenses (serious budget impact)

Suddenly, that "free" tool is costing thousands monthly. And Microsoft knows exactly what they're doing—once you've invested weeks building reports, switching feels impossible.

Meanwhile, Germany's Schleswig-Holstein just ditched Microsoft entirely, expecting to save tens of millions by avoiding vendor lock-in and hidden costs.

The lesson? Start with strategy, not software shopping. Ask what decisions you could make better with real-time data before falling into the vendor trap.

Ready to escape the spreadsheet nightmare without breaking the bank? We've mapped the way out.

Read the full government leader's guide to smart BI decisions →

Community Engagement

Steve Jobs preached “seamless” design, but should government work like an iPad?

Richard Pope, founding member of the UK's Government Digital Service and GOV.UK's first product manager, argues that we need "beautiful seams"—public services that work brilliantly but let citizens understand and challenge how they operate. Democracy requires explanation, not obfuscation.

Pope writes with the experience of someone who helped found the UK Government Digital Service and who wrote Platformland. He also worked on Universal Credit's digital transformation, giving him rare insider perspective on designing large-scale public services.

Read the full story.

Your June Event Calendar!

Victoria

June 19 | OWASP Presents: AI-Driven Testing & Quantum Security
A session by the Open Web Application Security Project focusing on AI-driven testing and quantum security.
TIME: 5:30 PM - 8 PM PDT
PLACE: Engineering / Computer Science Building; 99111 Ring Rd
COST: Free
DETAILS

June 23 | Map & Make: Inclusive Cities Jam – Small City, Big Empathy
A hands-on design jam by the Victoria Impact Design Collective focusing on inclusive city planning.
TIME: 5:30 PM PDT - 8 PM PDT
The Dock Centre for Social Impact; 722 Cormorant Street
COST: Free
DETAILS

June 24 | Policy and a Pint: Working with Business in the Public Interest
An event by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada discussing collaboration between public and private sectors.
TIME: 5 PM - 7 PM PDT
PLACE: Swans Pub; 1601 Store St.
COST: Free
DETAILS

Toronto

June 18 | Assembling Change: How Cities and Citizens Are Reshaping Public Discourse
An event exploring the evolving relationship between urban development and public engagement.
TIME: 6 PM - 8 PM EDT
PLACE: 108 College St., 2nd Floor, Multipurpose Room
COST: Free
DETAILS

June 26 | Human-Centred AI × The Future: Insight, Foresight & Solutions
A conference focusing on the future of AI with a human-centric approach.
TIME: 2 PM - 6 PM EDT
PLACE: Thinkingbox Toronto, 425 Adelaide St. W #700
COST: $28
DETAILS

Calgary

June 19 | The Future of Cloud Security
An event discussing the future of cloud security.
TIME: 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM MDT
PLACE: The Pioneer; 117 8 Ave. SW
COST: Free
DETAILS

June 24 | FutureIT Calgary: GenAI, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity Leadership
A premier event designed to equip IT professionals with strategic insights on emerging technologies.
TIME: 10:30 AM - 5:15 PM MDT
PLACE: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
COST: Not specified
DETAILS

Worth Your Attention

What We’re Reading: It Can Be Done By Government: An Approach for Improving Efficiency in the Public Sector

This handbook provides a practical roadmap for public sector leaders to improve organizational processes using team-based approaches. Contrary to traditional external-focused leadership advice, exceptional public sector organizations dedicate 80% of their attention internally versus 20% externally. The book’s authros target process improvement initiatives, academic institutions, and change practitioners seeking effective organizational transformation. It emphasizes that processes—unlike finite projects—are ongoing, cyclical, and interconnected systems requiring systematic improvement for enhanced public sector efficiency and effectiveness.

Learn more and get the book here.

Further Reading

Stay on top of vital digital services news and tips by checking out insights from our previous newsletters

BUYING CANADIAN IS NOT ENOUGH: A practical technology roadmap for going from foreign vendor lock-in to harnessing Canadian innovation.

STREAMLINING FEATURE APPROVAL IN GOVERNMENT APPS: The Button secret for streamlining feature approvals for seamless, consistent user experiences across government applications.

NAVIGATING THE AI LANDSCAPE IN PUBLIC SERVICE: A decision-making framework for open-source vs. proprietary models.

REKINDLING DIGITAL TRUST: Button helps our partners build digital trust with their citizens every day. Learn how with our video, blog and white-paper guides today!

🔥 THE NEWEST HOT BUTTON REPORT: Learn how to rebuild trust with your stakeholders. Download the full, free report now.

Curious what a Canadian-first tech stack could look like for you?

We’ll happily walk you through three smart swaps that improve resilience, and reduce exposure without breaking your workflows.

Book a 30-minute working session with Button.

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