The video above – from change.gov – highlights members of the Obama Administration’s TIGR (Technology, Innovation and Government Reform) Team.  The team includes Beth Noveck, Dan Chenok, Blair Levin, Vivek Kundra and Andrew McLaughlin.

The team is attempting to make the Government more effective, efficient and transparent in its operations and how it communicates and converses with the public. Some of their comments and suggestions are outlined below.

Process trumps outcome

Vivek Kundra outlines a major issue:

One of the biggest problems in the Federal Government is that process has trumped outcome. The biggest reason for that is that everyone is focused on compliance and nobody is thinking about innovation and how to drive change within the Government.

The focus on compliance is often a result of the various regulations and barriers under which web managers must operate. The Federal Web Managers Council recently released a white paper on these issues suggesting solutions to obstacles of implementing Social Media in Government and putting citizens first. One of TIGR’s tasks will be to analyze these barriers and solutions, and implement any changes to enable Agencies to better communicate and interact with the public.

Dan Chenok suggests Technology allows for openness in the delivery and performance of services.

Technology can help make the delivery of services much more effective and efficient…in terms of providing transparency to the public about the performance of programs.

Services such as Peer to Patent allow for the public to use technology to make the work of the US Patent Office more efficient. These types of services which enable ideas and issues to be crowdsourced, have the potential to decrease the operational costs of Government agencies, while simultaneously increasing their efficiency.

Openness

The video talks about the citizens briefing book and how this will be used to bring ideas and comments from the people straight to Agency heads and to the President himself. It will be interesting to see if such interaction directly effects legislation, or the opinions of elected officials. Nevertheless, this allows for a more open and transparent exchange of ideas and views on public policy. This forum should hopefully allow some ideas to gain a traction of their own, and potentially flourish outside of a direct Government realm.

Andrew McLaughlin explains how the Government can make itself more open by putting its data – paid for by the taxpayer – on the web for others to manipulate and innovate using mashups. These can help citizens understand their world better and drive economic activity.

Vivek Kundra is an enthusiastic proponent of mashups and providing raw Government data to the public. As CTO for the District of Columbia he established the Apps for Democracy competition, which resulted in 47 Applications being built in 30 days, and an estimated 4,000% return on investment.

The success of this means he could become the Obama Administration’s CTO on Wednesday. Such a choice could usher in an exciting new age of innovation and openness in how Government data is exploited for public benefit.

Vivek Kundra finishes on the note below.

Why is it we [Federal Government] can’t innovate and find better ways of bring services, lowering the cost of Government operations and driving transparency? Those of the things you’re going to see in this Administration.

Given the Federal Government spends $70 billion each year on IT – representing 20% of the tech economy – it’s imperative it uses this more effectively to achieve the goals and objectives of a more open and participatory democracy.

President-elect Barack Obama is inviting the nation to participate in the Inauguration festivities surrounding his swearing-in as President on January 20.

The subject of change and revitalizing American participatory democracy are clearly evident in the address. These themes manifest themselves through particular phrases, some of the most important of which are discussed below:

• Obama’s opening words “But this inauguration is not about me. It’s about all of us.” This tone speaks volumes about the spirit of inclusiveness and dialog his administration is seeking to create. It’s this openness to participatory democracy that clinched him the nomination and the election. President-elect Obama serves at the pleasure of the American people and it’s this realization and acknowledgment that is invigorating and refreshing. It provides a platform for greater civic engagement and hope throughout the next 4 years.
• ‘We’ve made this inauguration open and accessible to communities across our nation. Just text the word ‘OPEN’ to 56333 for news, transportation updates and ways you can participate.’ Events leading up to the inauguration are being broadcast on major channels HBO, Disney, ABC and the internet. In order for those who cannot attend events in Washington President-elect Obama directs people to pic2009.org, where they can sign up to host their own neighborhood ball at home. Allowing everyone to engage in the inauguration celebration as a collective event is a powerful way of conveying a sense of unity throughout the nation.
• ‘But that’s just the beginning of ways you can get involved.’ He goes on to ask for the active participation of all Americans. It’s Martin Luther King Jnr. day on Monday 19th and ‘to honor a the legacy of a man who lived his life as a servant to others’ he asks all Americans to make a ‘renewed commitment to serving their communities and their country’. He goes on to emphasize that anyone can contribute something to the ‘life of the nation’ and asks all Americans to participate in volunteering through visiting usaservice.org to find service projects or organize their own.

Continuing service

‘I’m not asking you to take part in one day of service. I’m asking you to make a lasting commitment to make better the lives of your fellow Americans. A commitment that must endure beyond one day or even on presidency…I’m asking you to play your part and roll up your sleeves and join in the work of remaking this nation. And if you do I truly believe a new and better day is within our reach.’

This service can manifest itself in many ways, and the Obama administration is employing Web 2.0 tools to engage Americans in a new form of participatory democracy. These tools were successfully used throughout the campaign to allow for greater public engagement and organization. The Transition team has also used these tools to solicit ideas and comments around policy questions though change.gov.

This engagement and request for participation is not stopping on Tuesday, however, rather it’s going to be incorporated into the Administration itself. The Citizen’s Briefing Book will be used to collect ideas and suggestions to go directly to President Obama.

I will open the doors of Government and ask you to be involved in your democracy again – President-elect Barack Obama

Expectations for the Obama administration are high. Only by harnessing the potential of the American people, and changing Government/Citizen engagement model will the ‘new and better day’ he seeks come to fruition. The sentiments expressed above along with the overall theme of the transition are refreshing. The concept of open and inclusive change is invigorating to those seeking a revitalized and engaged democracy.

Can President-elect Obama create this? No. Can we do it? Yes we can.