Apr 8th, 2009 |
Is Web 2.0 changing the way government organizations are working together internally, as organizations? Is Web 2.0 causing us to think more about the contribution we, as employees, can make to our organizations? Is Web 2.0 breaking down some traditional silos and stimulating us to work outside of typical work structures? In my opinion, the answers are obvious: Yes! Yes! And yes!
Web 2.0 has started a revolution….an evolution and a new way of working together, sharing information, contributing knowledge and respecting the active participation of a wide range of users. This is the genesis of Government 2.0.
At Natural Resources Canada, we are in the midst of such a revolution. We began with some simple exploration into a few ‘collaborative tools’. But, we quickly discovered the power of collaboration and Web 2.0 technology. From then on we were hooked and we were excited. As we shared our stories with others, we discovered that the excitement was contagious…not because we simply talked about it or gave demos, but because this technology is immediate and accessible.
When we started our journey into Gov 2.0, we knew we wanted to try out a lot of ‘really cool stuff’. We also knew we needed to demonstrate value to NRCan employees. Our focus was on two major deliverables: a departmental Wiki and a Business Case for implementing Collaborative Technology. Our Wiki 101 pilot, (101 users in 101 days) was established to assess how a wiki could enable the creation of rich, integrated content amongst government employees (after all, a Wiki is only as good as the content it holds). We also wanted to build some support and identify lead users. The pilot exceeded our expectations. Employees were asking to take part, they wanted to help each other out, and communities of employees with common interests were emerging.
In October, 2007 we launched our Wiki to all the employees of NRCan and three months later, the Business Case was approved. Since then, our wiki continues to evolve and grow and, we continue to introduce additional tools.
Has the transition to Gov 2.0 at NRCan been easy? No. It has been hard work. Has it been worthwhile? Absolutely! Our bold approach has enabled renewal in the department. It is supporting new ways of working and increasing the level of collaborating amongst employees. It is changing the culture of work at NRCan.
We were thrilled to be invited as contributors to this blog to stimulate dialogue on topics such as culture change, social technologies, innovative approaches, GC collaboration, rules of engagement and many others. Through this dialogue we will exchange ideas, thoughts and opinions; share best practices; and talk about the challenges, risks and our changing role. Most importantly, we will learn from each other in an open and collaborative environment. In the spirit of Government 2.0, let’s start collaborating…….
