technology in the public sector

week 1: social media and government

Northwestern University MPPA 490

Summer 2012 - Greg Wass

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• Introductions

• Course overview

• Learning objectives

• Group projects

• Grading

• Questions

• Social media and government6/18/12

technology in the public sector week 1

2

• Course overview1. Social media and government2. Public safety and criminal justice IT3. (no class)4. Health and human services IT5. ERP and shared services6. Education technologies7. Open data and big data in the public

sector8. The digital city9. IT governance and funding10.Group projects

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• Learning objectives

– Understand current use of technology in

government and education.

– Complete a group project on a

technology in the public sector topic of

choice.

– Identify trends and future direction for

use of technology in public sector.

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• Grading

– Participation in class and on Blackboard

discussion board (25%)

–Midterm exam (25%) (July 23)

– Group project

(plan/resources/draft/final) (25%)

– Final exam (25%) (week of August 20)

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Questions?

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Social media and government:

Does it make a

difference?

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Drawing by Margaret Hagan, accessed at http://www.razblint.com/2011/09/protest-technology-arab-spring/ 6/17/12

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#ows

“Do digital tools enhance democracy? (They) probably do not hurt in the short run and might help in the long run—and they have the most dramatic effects in states where a public sphere already constrains the actions of the government.”

– Clay Shirky, “The Political Power of Social Media” in Foreign Affairs

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“The instruments of social media are well suited to making the existing social order more efficient. They are not a natural enemy of the status quo.”

-Malcolm Gladwell, “Small Change” in The New Yorker

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How can government use social media and “choice” to engage and involve citizens?

(This is a different question from “Does social media drive social change?”)

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!

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From The Power of Social Innovation:

Are we heading towards a new kind of “social mediated” government?

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Leveraging social media for

change–Provide new, attention-grabbing

ways for individuals to mobilize fellow citizens.–Devolve access to information from

“experts” to citizens.–Gain access to and post providers’

performance and financial data.Source: Stephen Goldsmith, The Power of Social Innovation, 2010

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Tapping into a shared identity–Activate citizens by tapping into a

shared goal or interest.–Meet people where they are (e.g.,

church, school) to tap into existing identity.–Mobilize families around the notion

that something is wrong by showing something right.

Source: Stephen Goldsmith, The Power of Social Innovation, 2010

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Building trust and commitment–Solidify a reputation for reliability.–Furnish the activated group with

tools and direction to build broader public support.– Hold elected officials accountable.

Source: Stephen Goldsmith, The Power of Social Innovation, 2010

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Engaging the public

“…one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”--George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson, “Broken

Windows,” The Atlantic, March 1982.

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How can technology help increase the relative # of people who care about an issue and want to get involved (and reduce the relative # of squeaky wheels)?

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grease

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Traditional approach:

people who don't care

people who care but who aren't involved

people who care and are involved

Increasing public participation via “e-democracy”

squeaky wheels

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Examples:•Crowdsourcing park design•Interactive budgeting: Cook County, City of Chicago•Open board appointments: Illinois•Open data, apps•Other?

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Source: OpenPlans.org

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Potential positive effects of technological innovation on government:

•Transparency trust•Government as a platform, not just service deliverer•Real public participation

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Appendix: Innovation in government

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“An innovation, to be effective, has to be simple and it has to be focused. It should do only one thing, otherwise it confuses. If it is not simple, it won’t work. Everything new runs into trouble; if complicated, it cannot be repaired or fixed.

“All effective innovations are breathtakingly simple. Indeed, the greatest praise an innovation can receive is for people to say: ‘This is obvious. Why didn’t I think of it?’”

-- Peter F. Drucker

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Source for graphics on following pages: The Public Innovators Playbook, Deloitte, 2009

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“Integrated innovation lifecycle”

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