According to SmartBrief “The US State Department unveiled a new look website yesterday as it embraces social networking and other Web 2.0 tools in an exercise it called ’21st Century statecraft. “Smart power meets smart design,” Katie Dowd, the State Department’s New Media Director, said in a post outlining the changes to State.gov on the State Department blog “DipNote,” which is also undergoing a facelift.

The new website provides front-page links to the State Department’s official YouTube channel, Twitter feed, Facebook page and Flickr photo account. The State Department said in a statement that the revamped State.gov incorporates improved “functionality and an updated design” and aims to “present the Department of State more transparently.” It is intended to “engage audiences in an ongoing dialogue with Secretary Clinton and others in the department on the foreign policy issues facing the country,” it said.”

http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/us-state-department-revamps-website-in-web-20-push — US State Department revamps website in Web 2.0 push

This article from ITWorld Canada speculates on the impact of the cabinet shuffle on Canadian IT providers. The author ponders if technology efficiency will be one of the initiatives that Mr. Day will take on as the new Treasury Board Minister. He points out that the aging legacy systems will need replacing and new efficiency-focuses applications will be preferred. He also points out that close to 40% of the public sector will be retiring in the coming years which will put pressure on the government to automate more of its services. Is this a driver for Government 2.0? I hope so. A greater focus on multi-departmental and multi-jurisdictional e-collaboration could only help achieve the levels of efficiencies sought. And wider implementation of open source web 2.0 applications will allow for better platform integration and less data lock-in by closed vendor-based applications.

http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/why-cabinet-shake-up-isnt-bad-news-for-it-industry/139797-pg1

This is a great article on why governments need to rethink their use of technology.  Some of my favourite points in this article are:

1. Government employees are being asked to work with one half of their brain behind their back (due to their lack of access to social media sites)

2. The resistance of the DG level because they are concerned about giving power to the “people”

There is also a reference to our favourite Government of Canada site GCPedia  (Please insert applause here….) ;-]

http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/why-canada-should-open-source-government/139761

CNN reporter, Pete Cashmore writes this interesting and thought provoking article on how social media is being used to support the relief efforts in Haiti. He notes that everyone from aid organizations to politicians to celebrities are tapping into their social media followers to ask for them for donations and help.  According to Cashmore, this is one of the first times in history that social media is overcoming “Slacktivism“. Followers are actually doing more than just observing or “following”;  they are actually doing something to make a difference.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/14/cashmore.haiti.earthquake.relief.technology/index.html

I love this concept. It’s a web site called GovLuv. In essence, it allow you to connect with your Senator, or other government representative through Twitter. The site states…

“Citizens: GovLuv connects you instantly with your government representatives through the magical power of Twitter. Based on your address, you can see who your representatives are, what they’re saying, and what people are saying to them! Sign in with Twitter.”

For government officials, the site suggests…

“Government: You’re probably already in here! Sign in with Twitterto take control of your account. If your account isn’t there, tweet @govluv and we’ll get it fixed ASAP.”

What an innovative way of incouraging better communication between governments and their citizens.

http://govluv.org/offices/547-barack-obama

The annual TrendWatching.com consumer predictions came out today and #5 is all about Mass Mingling (the affect of social media).  They observe that….

“More people than ever will be living large parts of their lives online in 2010. Yet, those same people will also mingle, meet up, and congregate more often with other ‘warm bodies’ in the offline world.
In fact, social media and mobile communications are fueling a MASS MINGLING that defies virtually every cliché about diminished human interaction in our ‘online era’.

So, forget (for now) a future in which the majority of consumers lose themselves in virtual worlds. Ironically the same technology that was once seen to be—and condemned for—turning entire generations into homebound gaming zombies and avatars, is now deployed to get people out of their homes.

Basically, the more people can get their hands on the right info, at home and on the go; the more they date and network and twitter and socialize online, the more likely they are to eventually meet up with friends and followers in the real world. Why? Because people actually enjoy interacting with other warm bodies, and will do so forever. A list of MASS MINGLING facts and drivers:

• Social media is all about other people to begin with.
  From a recent Pew report: “When we examine people’s full personal network – their strong ties and weak ties – internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with having a more diverse social network. Again, this flies against the notion that technology pulls people away from social engagement.”
• The most popular and/or hyped online services, from Foursquare to Google Latitude to Loopt to FireEagle, are currently all about following, finding, tracking, connecting to, and ultimately (spontaneously) meeting up with interesting people (friends and strangers). For some users of these services, ‘life-streaming’ is now a reality, especially when combined with their blogs, tweets, and Facebook updates pages.
  
• Terabytes of online (local) content is about informing and alerting people to make the most of their time with others in the real world.
• Last but not least: The mobile web has bridged the gap between either being offline in the real world, or being online but in one location (mostly living rooms and offices). Thanks to a dozen years of predicting an imminent, mass-breakthrough of mobile internet, no one gets really excited about the prospect of no longer being stuck when online. However, it will dominate 2010, and it will fuel MASS MINGLING like there’s no tomorrow, as online will be offline by default, and vice versa.

Next for MASS MINGLING will be even more impromptu, temporary meet-ups of strangers, mobs and crowds with similar interests, hobbies, political preferences, causes and grievances. Many of these (temporary) meet-ups will revolve around generating public attention, or getting something done. And here too, Twitter will lead the way (tweetmobs, anyone?).

The opportunity is obvious: Anyone involved with anything that helps people get and stay in touch, that gets people from A-Z, or that accommodates those people before, during or after meeting-up with others, should not only rejoice in MASS MINGLING, but make it even easier for customers to meet up in any possible way, too.

Now, there are thousands of MASS MINGLING examples as it is, so we’ll stick with just one fun one that is still in ‘concept’:

• UK network Channel 4 announced the ongoing development of a Facebook app for the hit show ‘Come Dine With Me‘. The app will give fans of the show, in which amateur chefs hold competing dinner parties for one another, the tools to host their own parties with their Facebook friends.”

WebDrive client, Pierre Belvedere Inc, is launching their first-ever social media-based consumer opinion survey (thanks to a little help from WebDrive).  The goal is to learn more about the stationary, pen and academic agenda preferences of the student market (high school to university age groups).  

Students will be communicated with through a number of social mediums including Facebook, MySpace, LinkeIn, YouTube and Twitter.  The goal is to create a viral effect where by students will refer other students to the survey using social networking sites.  The company’s ROI is anticipated to be impressive because this approach lowers their communication costs while attracting a larger number of respondents.

If you know someone in this age group, you can refer them to the survey through this link.

http://pierrebelvedere.webdrive.ca

Had a great day at the social media for government conference.  The presenation went really well and all of the speakers were top quality.  I particularly liked the thinking coming from HRSDC’s Canada Student Load Program. In a nut shell, they suggested that positioning blog campaigns similarly to media requests helps upper management rap their heads around this new medium.  They also suggested to start small and brief, brief, brief!

Here are the presentations that we gave.  If anyone needs any further information, please let me know.

ali-conf-sept30-Jen - Jennifer Savage of WebDrive Canada 

ALI-conference-sept30-chantal – Chantal Wolfe of DFAIT

1. Relevance

·         The wiki must meet a tangible business need.  There are too many technology solutions that were created out of love for the technology rather than to address a critical need.  However, a truly successful wiki strategy is built around a clear understanding of the intended user-base and the needs that the wiki will address.

·         The wiki clearly communicates the benefits it offers to its users.  People are busy, particularly within government.  It is faster and easier to stick with current technology solutions, even if they aren’t perfect, rather than learn how to use a new technology. Therefore a successful wiki needs to clearly communicate the value it offers users to entice them to use it. This value must be communicated directly from the main page of the wiki and in subsequent pages.

2. Technology

·         The wiki must operate at a reasonable speed. This is particularly critical for departments that operate in countries or regions with lower bandwidths.  Slow response time is one of the fastest ways to lose a user base, so know your audience’s usage environment and test, test, test.

·         The wiki technology must be reliable.  Like anything in this world, if a technology doesn’t work consistently, users will develop mistrust and move on to something more reliable. Therefore a successful wiki strategy identified the technology support structure (both equipment and people) required to keep the wiki working reliably.

3. Content

·         The wiki must have meaningful content.  As previously mentioned, users are busy people.  If the information housed on the wiki isn’t useful to them, they will turn elsewhere.  One of the easiest ways to ensure the usefulness of content is to encourage users to create their own.

·         Wiki content should come predominately from the users themselves.  The main value of wiki technology is that anyone can add or edit content without being a web programmer.  Therefore a valuable wiki can be tested based on the amount of user-generated content that has been uploaded to the wiki.  Resist the urge to turn the wiki into a fancy single-source publishing tool. Rather encourage users to create value by creating their own content.

4. Usability

·         Things on the wiki should be easy to find. Nothing is more frustrating than wasting time trying to find information.  All wiki strategies should employ a clearly defined navigation strategy.  It is recommended that the wiki use robust search technology and use a multidimensional navigation system.

·         The wiki should be easy to use. Attracting users to a new type of technology is normally only successful if the technology is easy to use.  Before selecting a wiki platform, wiki management should ensure that adding, editing, moving and deleting content is straight forward. Any additional features such as tagging, categorizing, mash-ups, blogging, discussion boards and instant messaging should be uncomplicated and intuitive.

WebDrive Canada and Ajilon Consulting are excited to invite you to the Web 2.0 Executive Breakfast on Wednesday, November 26th at the Ottawa Marriott. As many of you know, we had a tremendous turnout at GTEC for our presentation on Web 2.0 Strategies within government. The room accommodated 55 people and even after allowing people to stand at the back, we were forced to turn away over 40 people. In response, we have arranged to give another presentation. However, this one has been developed to specifically address the interests and concerns of government managers.

So, please book time on Wednesday the 26^th to join us and fellow government executives for a breakfast presentation at the Marriott; and please feel free to come with your colleagues. The event is being hosted by both WebDrive and Ajilon Consulting so there will be no charge. You’ll find all details in the attached file, but space is limited, so please R.S.V.P. by Friday 21 Nov to: hodan.mahamoud@ajilon.com

Thank you. I look forward to seeing you, and anyone you choose to bring, at the breakfast.

Jennifer Savage

Wikis and Blogs and Facebook….OH MY!

An executive’s guide to planning out and implementing Web 2.0 strategies.

Web 2.0 technologies are allowing for new levels of engagement and interaction with Canadians, stakeholders, industry and special interest groups. The advantages are endless but how do you get started? And what factors do you need to think about when deciding upon Web 2.0 tools and social media?

In this session Jennifer Savage, President of WebDrive Canada will describe the journey that departments such as the PMO, Finance Canada and the Governor General’s Office took in exploring Web 2.0 options. You’ll also learn the ABC’s of planning out and implementing a Web 2.0 strategy. Items discussed will include:

• Exploring the various Web 2.0 tools available for connecting and interacting with Canadians, stakeholders, industry and special interest groups
• Determining which Web 2.0 tools best fit your department or agency’s mandates
• Discovering the most critical outreach social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube
• Monitoring social media sites for valuable policy and program feedback
• Determining the return on investment of Web 2.0