Gov 2.0 as an enabler of Transformative Change in the Public Sector
Earlier this year, Doug Hadden at FreeBalance and Martha Batorski at Grant Thornton published a white paper called ‘Embracing Government 2.0: Leading transformative change in the public sector’. The paper explores the skills and mindsets governments need to employ to achieve transformative change.
The paper argues that such change requires a dramatic increase in the transparency, participation and collaboration between governments and citizens through Web 2.0 and social networking technologies.
Embracing Government 2.0 Leading Trans Formative Change in the Public Sector
The report identifies some of the benefits of Gov 2.0 as:
- Reduced cost of engagement through more productive tools and processes
- Simplided knowledge creation and retention though usable applications
- Easier knowledge sharing
- Enhanced information discovery through transparency and data mashups
- Effective cross-pollination through bottom-up social collaboration
- Leveraging internal government and external “wisdom of crowds” to improve government results
- Fostering of innovation, through the use of fexible tools.
- Expanded engagement
- Faster completion of review cycles
- Improved citizen and employee satisfaction
The report concludes with:
Government 2.0, through the use of social collaboration tools, can and should represent real transformation. Social collaboration, and even electronic outreach that mirrors traditional processes, can make meaningful improvements in every part of every organization.
Relentless pressure to do more with less in the public sector will continue. To reduce costs, save time, improve results, and create value. To harness and share knowledge more cost effectively. To modernize management practices. All of these factors are creating the need to responsibly leverage new technologies enabling social collaboration. Implication: accelerated organizational transformation and change.
Government 2.0 requires leaders to embrace an enhanced set of change and risk management skills. It requires a paradigm shift from outside-to-inside networks, and right-sizing operational controls. It requires new skills in design thinking, trust, and change leadership. The future is here for public sector organizations, and its name is Government 2.0.
For more on the report, check http://www.freebalance.com/blog/?p=879
