Get Organized for Great Customer Service

At long last, the customer service bandwagon seems to be rolling in government. The latest evidence: GSA just quietly unveiled a fabulous new website: HowTo.gov. It puts requirements, best practices, training, and tips for all forms of customer service delivery (web, call centers, publications, social media) under one customer service umbrella. Bravo! Finally, we canRead… Read more »

Looking for a real book in a library

While on holiday I got a message to say that a book I had requested was ready for collection from the library. Back from holidays I went to the library and asked at the front desk for the book. But was told that because I had taken so long the book was no longer there.Read… Read more »

Nutrition and Public Education Likely to Gain Attention

As the eyes of Texas are upon the coming budget cuts in Austin, a state that spends the majority of its funding on public education prepares for reductions that will decrease spending for education by at least 16%. While the budget issues are the current center of debate, other bills regarding education will likely gainRead… Read more »

Working with Upset Customers? Turn down the H.E.A.T.

“When I have an angry customer, I just put the phone down on my desk and walk away. By the time I get back, they are either calm, or they hung up. Problem Solved.” I really did have a student in one of my classes make that statement. I’ve heard a lot of odd perceptionsRead… Read more »

Australian Government Information Policy

The Australian Information Commissioner has invited comment on “Towards an Australian Government Information Policy” by 1 March 2011. The paper provides a very comprehensive overview of Australian and overseas policies and initiatives for information access and discussion of the issues. It is 65 pages and is provided as a very efficiently formatted 226 Kbytes webRead… Read more »

Power of the World Bank’s Transparent Project Management

I’m at DevHouse:DC right now. It’s basically a gathering of the technologically creative and curious among us. People come to build applications and learn. Naturally, I had to come. It also helps that Andy K promoted it on GovLoop. A World Bank employee showed me how his organization is applying open data to project management.Read… Read more »

New Pew survey emphasizes the Internet’s importance in civil society

The role of the Internet as a platform for collective action grows. A survey released this week by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and Life Project shed light on the social side of the Internet. The results offered insight into the differences between the connected and the disconnected, revealing that Internet users are more likelyRead… Read more »