Tech

Speaking With One Voice – A Basic of Good Customer Service

A recent Federal Computer Week article began by saying that, for fun, I sometimes ask a question through various channels at a government agency to see if I get the same answer. Well, I’m not sure I’d call it “fun.” But I have done just that when preparing to teach a class – mostly toRead… Read more »

I Hate “Lurkers”

I just finished reading an article called “Active lurkers – the hidden asset in online communities.” Here’s an excerpt: “Most communities have 90% of users who are lurkers – people who may consume things from the community, but who don’t contribute…While it is inevitable that larger communities will end up with 1% of their membersRead… Read more »

Early Registration is Open for Gov 2.0 Expo

Just a quick note to let everyone know that early registration is now open for Gov 2.0 Expo, happening May 25-27, 2010 at the Washington Convention Center in DC. Gov 2.0 Expo will be the technology event for 21st Century government, giving government employees and contractors access to the practical tools, in-depth training, and industryRead… Read more »

FOIA Meets Electronic Mail

Freedom of Information Act requests are swamping government. Governments have growing incentive to open-up, be transparent and publish their records (such as lots of email) directly on the web. If records are published, government doesn’t have to waste so much effort replying to FOIA demands. A case study is the municipality of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Is Open Government “Dangerously Digital”?

Wrote a blog post this morning about a talk I gave yesterday, the subject matter being that open government – transparency, collaboration, and participation – is controlled by CIO’s and CTO’s. Why? Perhaps open government and the OGD and its solutions are too tech-reliant (what I term, Dangerously Digital). Where’s the human side of theRead… Read more »

Social Media isn’t a Prerequisite for Open Government

This post originally appeared on my external blog,“Social Media Strategery.” Open Government/Government 2.0 is about more than wikis, open data, Twitter, Web 2.0, or social media—it is about the strategic use of technology to transform our government into a platform that is participatory, collaborative, and transparent. Sure, social media can help facilitate this transformation, butRead… Read more »

The Latest News from The White House from the Open Government TV RSS feed

I’m curious to get feedback on this latest news White House official advises on open-government plans Plans on how to become more transparent should be road maps that identify what agencies want to achieve By Doug Beizer Feb 18, 2010 The open-government plans that agencies must publish by April 7 shouldn’t be used to specifyRead… Read more »

Sole Source is Out, RFP is in. But I’m still annoyed.

For those who are waiting with bated breath, I have an update on the Navy’s requirement “to develop an internal social networking community relevant to service members in a military environment.” I have heard through the grapevine that because two other companies asked to be added to the list of Interested Vendors, the Navy hasRead… Read more »

Browser Compatibility: So Often Overlooked

Everyone knows that developing a government website can be a challenge. One of the most common development concerns is Section 508 compliance. However, while Section 508 compliance is important, it should not be a developer’s only concern when testing a website. One area of web development that I find so often overlooked by government developersRead… Read more »

Keep your agency or biz real with videos

I recently viewed this video from INgage Networks and wanted to highlight it. First, the video: What I like: The company focuses first on delivering great information. It is delivered in an entertaining fashion. Kathy Saenz keeps you engaged throughout the video. Yes, it is a little wacky but it’s done at just the rightRead… Read more »