I was just doing a bit of research for my seminar later this week on networked government. Located at the Civil Service College in Singapore its something I’ve been looking forward to. The subject, which is one of the most important ones around at the moment, requires me to bring together a lot of current and planned future work in strategy, knowledge management and sense-making in general. Searching the web, nearly all the examples assume that if you connect people via technology that solves the problem. My view is that such a perspective is a total nonsense, and I am supported in this by a deeply pragmatic story on anti-terrorism in the US. A success story about sharing data between agencies and fast response: but its not about systems, its about people. The concluding phrases recognise the usefulness of technology, but not as a panacea, or as a replacement for trust:
”When you talk about Washington and all those systems they're developing that are going to interconnect everybody in the country and everybody in the world, that's good," he said.
"But the reality is, on a day-to-day basis you have to go into those systems," he [Beasley, who designed the state center in AZ] added. "Most people, if they're operational, don't have the time. That's where that personal relationship, day to day, is absolutely critical. This business is built on trust”.
Comments (3)
Dave - I'm very pleased that you are doing some work on the "networked goverment" topic. I heartily agree with you that it is "one of the most important ones around at the moment" and have been in the early stages of researching it myself (I work for an Australian goverment agency - Sydney Catchment Authority - that must rely heavily on other govt agencies plus local govt and community to achieve our objectives. BTW I have done the accreditation training, intend to formally register, but having quite as yet!).
I'd be very interested in your presentation and also the opinions of yourself and others in the "cognitive edge" scene of the first book I've come across that deals with the topic: "Governing by Network: The new shape of the public sector" by Goldsmith and Eggers. http://www.governingbynetwork.com/
I've found the book quite interesting although at times very US centric. I'm cautious of the "business publication speak and hype", but I'm pleased to see the networked government approach getting some consideration. (I found this gem through Patti Hutchinson's blog http://www.byeday.net/weblog/networkblog.html - thanks Patti - nice blog.)
If others know of other books or research material in this topic area - especially if they incorporate complex systems and organisational network analysis please let me know through responding to this comment.
Regards,
Serena
And PS - good luck with the book.
Posted by Serena Joyner | September 21, 2006 3:35 AM
Posted on September 21, 2006 03:35
err... Apologies - that is Patti Anklam of Hutchinson Associates (sorry Patti!)..... who has a terrific blog called "Networks, Complexity, and Relatedness" - Inquiry and learning into social networks, organizational network analysis, and the relationships among people and systems in complex organizations and networks.
Posted by Serena Joyner | September 22, 2006 12:56 AM
Posted on September 22, 2006 00:56
Thanks Serena - I have known Patti for years and have the draft of her current book to read through this weekend (as she references the Cynefin Framework). Its good to see her blog active again. We do have some disagreements on SNA however http://www.cognitive-edge.com/articledetails.php?articleid=45 as well as many agreements
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September 22, 2006 1:05 AM
Posted on September 22, 2006 01:05