Comments on: 2020 Summit fails Australia on connectedness

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:43:57 +0000

I can understand the sense of frustration that comes with waiting for government to move on what seems an obvious win but I think it would be remiss not to look at how many of the changes in the UK have occured.

Whilst there is a renewed sense of determination by the UK govt to increase its’ rate of online interaction, much of this has been led by a small (but growing) community of people determined to enable better e-gov services.

I’ve been looking at case studies across Europe and can see similar patterns. I think Estonia looks like one of the only EU countries where this hasn’t been the case - but even there the government relies on a dedicated network of individuals to support its e-gov activities.

As Stephen says - it may just take a small push in the right direction: http://www.showusabetterway.co.uk/

By: A Meaningful Life » Blog Archive » Australia 2020 - far less than perfect vision

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:41:20 +0000

[…] Stil sums it up well in this post and also Stephens Collins on this acidlabs.org post. […]

By: shane

shane — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:39:59 +0000

There are some very smart (younger and older) SES out there. I happen to know several and some are even among my professional friends.

Quite clearly I haven’t been working in the right Departments. This makes me a little sad as possibly so much of my frustration of the last 7 years is simply because I haven’t been where I needed to be.

*sigh*

Too late now I suppose, given I check out at the end of the year.

By: Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:22:17 +0000

Glenn, I completely agree. There are some very smart (younger and older) SES out there. I happen to know several and some are even among my professional friends. Trouble is, often their talent gets recognised and they get poached to private enterprise.

I guess am frustrated by seeing colleagues in the US, UK and NZ race ahead of Australia, despite those colleagues themselves feeling frustrated by their perception of slow progress.

I would like to see some intestinal fortitude on the part of senior members of the APS. Have them try to implement a successful, clever program involving connectedness to their constituency and see just how successful it can be.

It wouldn’t take much for small programs to start a wave…

By: Glen Wallis

Glen Wallis — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:14:48 +0000

I don’t know what, if anything, will come from the 2020 summit, but I totally agree with your closing remark that smart people on the ground are not being allowed to inteligently manage this technology.
Having said that I am quite sure that change is happening. It’s just happening at public service pace. Generational change in the SES is also happening, but it’s happening one person at a time. There are some pretty switched on SES ofiicers out there.

By: shane

shane — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:37:41 +0000

My own view is that change doesn’t happen because those that want to make changes aren’t in a position to approve changes. In turn, they become increasingly frustrated and disenchanted before finally either giving up or quitting the APS to do their own thing.

I can only speak from my own experience, but I feel it is going to take a substantial and devastating generational change in the SES before things improve. Even then, I’m not convinced that there is a positive correlation between those that get the power of the internet and those who are more likely to work their way up through the system.

I would desperately love to hear from people whose experience contradicts my own. It would give me more hope for the future.