Case for Cool: Younger Generation Pushing Government Social Media Innovation

Steve Ressler

15 years ago

Yesterday Mr. GovLoop ran the “Case for Cool” (uh who else were they going to get to run it!) session at the OGI (Open Government Innovations) Conference in DC. The gist of the session was to show how younger government leaders are trailblazing and using Web 2.0 technologies to usher in the new brand of government – open, transparent, collaborative.

During the session several questions were posed in poll format to identify how people thought about the new trends emerging in Gov 2.0 and to get takes on the social media increases in collaboration, efficiency and productivity. The answers also give a little insight into how the next generation envisions the workplace of the future.

With out further ado the poll results:

What is it about young leaders that scares more “seasoned” govvies most? (multiple choice)

14		Their impatience with the pace of change	Their willingness to share personal information with everyone.	Their obsession with “collaboration.”	Their questioning of the old guard.	Other	Total
15	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	8	4	0	8	2	22
16	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	10	12	4	10	1	37
17	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	26	23	3	10	13	75
18	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	1	0	0	2	5
19	3.) Sometimes nothing is more effective in the business world than a telephone call, or a one-on-one meeting. Has the use of instant messaging and/or online meeting collaboration told in your organization decreased the amount of direct, personal interaction with your co-workers?
20		Yes	No	Total
21	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	8	22	30
22	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	12	28	40
23	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	42	26	68
24	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	4	6
25	4.) Do you think that this decrease works to the benefit of your organization? (multiple choice)
26
27		Always	More often than not.	Seldom.	Never	Total
28	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	1	8	7	1	17
29	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	1	15	8	4	28
30	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	2	22	22	7	53
31	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	0	2	1	1	4
32	5.) Does telework include working from Starbucks? Or do I have to be at home? (multiple choice)
33
34		Home only	Anywhere	Telework is not viable for most federal employees	Total
35	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	0	27	2	29
36	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	3	34	1	38
37	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	13	54	10	77
38	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	0	5	1	6
39	6.) What would you consider to be the first hi-speed Internet and why? (multiple choice)
40
41		Darpa Net	56K Modem	Broadband/Cable	Other	Total
42	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	0	4	17	6	27
43	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	3	3	24	9	39
44	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	13	8	32	11	64
45	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	1	1	3	0	5
46	7.) If a young person comes in and sees an inefficiency in process or in a project, what’s the best way of voicing this to more seasoned staffers without being seen as a know-it-all or being told, defeatedly, that “it’s always been done that way.” (multiple choice)
47
48
49
50		Write an “FYI-only” memo	Start an inner-office petition drive	Complain via Twitter or a Facebook page	Keep your head down	Total
51	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	7	1	3	2	13
52	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	18	1	5	3	27
53	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	22	2	7	7	38
54	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	4	0	1	0	5
55	8.) Has social networking thus far had a fundamental impact on how your agency/organization provides services to its stakeholders? (multiple choice)
56
57
58		Yes	No	Total
59	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	10	15	25
60	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	6	25	31
61	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	17	40	57
62	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	2	4
63	9.) Regardless of your answer, do you think that will be more true over the next 2-3 years? (multiple choice)
64
65		Yes	No	Total
66	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	13	2	15
67	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	15	9	24
68	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	33	14	47
69	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	1	0	1
70
71	10.) This session met my expectations (multiple choice)
72		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Total
73	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	10	9	3	0	0	22
74	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	18	11	2	1	0	32
75	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	21	23	7	1	3	55
76	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	3	0	1	0	0	4
77
78	11.) The topic was current and informative (multiple choice)
79		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Total
80	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	7	7	3	1	0	18
81	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	22	6	4	1	0	33
82	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	32	17	3	0	1	53
83	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	1	1	0	0	4
84
85	12.) I would recommend this session to others (multiple choice)
86		Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Total
87	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	10	5	3	0	0	18
88	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	19	8	2	1	0	30
89	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	28	19	6	2	3	58
90	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	1	1	0	0	4
91
92	13.) Please rate the presentation skills of the Moderator/Speaker (multiple choice)
93		Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Total
94	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	12	5	1	0	0	18
95	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	21	10	0	0	0	31
96	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	40	15	0	1	0	56
97	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	2	0	0	1	0	3
98
99	14.) Please rate the value of the content presented (multiple choice)
100		Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Total
101	Gen Y (1977 – 1995),	5	9	3	0	1	18
102	Gen X 1965 – 1976),	14	10	2	1	1	28
103	Baby Boomer (1946 – 1964), or	18	29	5	2	1	55
104	Traditionalist (born Pre 1946)	1	2	0	0	0	3