The article stated that,
Steward said that although a lot of good work was being done, agencies needed to identify the internal barriers to embracing Gov 2.0, and develop an “action agenda” not only within their own agencies, but for collaboration with other agencies on common service areas - and the Australian public.
“How many of you are working collaboratively in externally hosted environments?” Steward asked delegates at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, prompting a show of hands. “A few, but not many,” she noted. “We need more activists to lead the way.”
Are you a Gov 2.0 activist?
If not - what is holding you back?
Just to play devil's advocate, why is an externally hosted environment preferable to an internally hosted one?
ReplyDeleteAnd how will that further open government? Is that a confusion of open government/data/etc and using social media to collaborate internally? And by 'collaborate internally' I mean public servants collaborating among themselves.
@Bruce - the externally hosted environments are where those subject ultimately to the actions of government - the public - congregate. While there may be solid reasons for an agency to host and build out its own social space to engage with the public, those first contacts are more likely to be valid and useful in places beyond the .gov.au namespace.
ReplyDeleteWhich is what Anne S was getting at (in fact, she noted as much in her talk).
To your other point, collaboration between public servants is absolutely a part of Government 2.0. It's a facet of the puzzle that often seems neglected or forgotten in the rush to engage publicly. Public engagement is critical, but so is public servants working together - across layers of government, between agencies and within them.
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ReplyDeleteAs a further view on this matter, my response to Anne Steward's comments (and related comments from Nicholas Gruen)
ReplyDeleteEnvironment is perhaps a poor choice of words as for IT people it has a distinct meaning in reference to IT systems.
ReplyDeleteFor the purposes of Ann's statement I believe 'environment' was used in a broader sense - where people congregate and interact.
In other words, social spaces.