GOVERNMENT 2.0 The Hype and the Reality by Dr D.C.Misra

Government 2.0 by Dr D.C.Misra Independent E-government Consultant New Delhi, India Email: [email_address] Blog: http://egov-india.blogspot.com / Think Tank: http:// tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyber_quiz Tel: 91-11- 2245 2431 Fax: 91-11- 4244 5183

by

Dr D.C.Misra

Independent E-government Consultant

New Delhi, India

Email: [email_address]

Blog: http://egov-india.blogspot.com /

Think Tank: http:// tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyber_quiz

Tel: 91-11- 2245 2431

Fax: 91-11- 4244 5183

What is proposed to be covered? I . Introduction II. Characteristic Features of Web 2.0 III. Seven Principles of Web 2.0 IV. Government 1.0 V. Government 2.0 VI. Distinction between Government 1.0 and government 2.0 VII. Importance of Government 2.0 VIII.Conclusion

I . Introduction

II. Characteristic Features of Web 2.0

III. Seven Principles of Web 2.0

IV. Government 1.0

V. Government 2.0

VI. Distinction between Government

1.0 and government 2.0

VII. Importance of Government 2.0

VIII.Conclusion

I. Introduction According to, The term "Web 2.0" was coined by Darcy DiNucci in her article Fragmented Future in 1999 ( Wikipedia). It started gaining in popularity when O'Reilly Media and MediaLive hosted the first Web 2.0 conference in October 2004.

According to, The term "Web 2.0" was coined by Darcy DiNucci in her article Fragmented Future in 1999 ( Wikipedia).

It started gaining in popularity when O'Reilly Media and MediaLive hosted the first Web 2.0 conference in October 2004.

II. Characteristic Features of Web 2.0 The Web as a platform, Harnessing Collective Intelligence, Data is the Next Intel Inside, End of the Software Release Cycle , Lightweight Programming Models , Software Above the Level of a Single Device, Rich User Experiences (O’Reilly 2005).

The Web as a platform,

Harnessing Collective Intelligence,

Data is the Next Intel Inside,

End of the Software Release Cycle ,

Lightweight Programming Models ,

Software Above the Level of a Single Device,

Rich User Experiences (O’Reilly 2005).

III. Seven Principles of Web 2.0 1. Services, not packaged software, with cost- effective scalability, 2. Control over unique, hard-to-recreate data sources that get richer as more people use them, 3. Trusting users as co-developers, 4. Harnessing collective intelligence, 5. Leveraging the long tail through customer self- service, 6. Software above the level of a single device, and 7. Lightweight user interfaces, development models, AND business models (O’Reilly 2005).

1. Services, not packaged software, with cost-

effective scalability,

2. Control over unique, hard-to-recreate data

sources that get richer as more people use them,

3. Trusting users as co-developers,

4. Harnessing collective intelligence,

5. Leveraging the long tail through customer self-

service,

6. Software above the level of a single device, and

7. Lightweight user interfaces, development

models, AND business models (O’Reilly 2005).

IV. Government 1.0 A one-way flow of information from government to citizens. As such citizen has neither any say nor any control over it. It is up to the government to decide what information to give and in what form, when should information be updated, and in what way should the information be presented, etc. Irani (2009:15), for example, notes about official web sites: “Dead links, flickering images, flashing text, under construction warnings, phone numbers that do not exist, and email IDs that bounce are the salient features of most GoI portals.”

A one-way flow of information from government to citizens.

As such citizen has neither any say nor any control over it.

It is up to the government to decide what information to give and in what form, when should information be updated, and in what way should the information be presented, etc.

Irani (2009:15), for example, notes about official web sites: “Dead links, flickering images, flashing text, under construction warnings, phone numbers that do not exist, and email IDs that bounce are the salient features of most GoI portals.”

V. Government 2.0 Government 2.0 bridges the gulf between the citizen and the state. Its essence is interaction between the citizen and the state. It expands the boundary of government by encouraging and undertaking collaboration of state with the citizens to serve them better. It strives for open and transparent government. It helps citizens help themselves. It uses the tools of Web 2.0 like blogs , wikis , mash ups and folksonomy (as distinct from taxonomy). Recently another dimension has been added to Government 2.0 under which citizens collaborate among themselves to produce new e-government products and services, typically based on data placed in public domain by the government.

Government 2.0 bridges the gulf between the citizen and the state.

Its essence is interaction between the citizen and the state.

It expands the boundary of government by encouraging and undertaking collaboration of state with the citizens to serve them better.

It strives for open and transparent government.

It helps citizens help themselves. It uses the tools of Web 2.0 like blogs , wikis , mash ups and folksonomy (as distinct from taxonomy).

Recently another dimension has been added to Government 2.0 under which citizens collaborate among themselves to produce new e-government products and services, typically based on data placed in public domain by the government.

VI. Distinction between Government 1.0 and Government 2.0 Government 1.0 is Hierarchical, Rigid while Government 2.0 is Networked, Collaborative and Flexible Government 1.0 is One-size-fits-all, Monopoly, Single channel while Government 2.0 is Personalized, Choice-based and Multi-channel Government 1.0 is Input- oriented, and Closed while Government 2.0 is Outcome-driven and Transparent (Macmillan, Medd and Hughes 2008).

Government 1.0 is Hierarchical, Rigid while Government 2.0 is Networked, Collaborative and Flexible

Government 1.0 is One-size-fits-all, Monopoly, Single channel while Government 2.0 is Personalized, Choice-based and Multi-channel

Government 1.0 is Input- oriented, and Closed while Government 2.0 is Outcome-driven and Transparent (Macmillan, Medd and Hughes 2008).

VI. Importance of Government 2.0 Williams foresees Web 2.0 technologies “to transform service delivery, make smarter policies, flatten silos and, most importantly, reinvigorate democracy.” (Klein 2008). Don Tapscott, the author of Growing Up Digital and Wikinomics has claimed that “government 2.0” was the most important change for government in more than a century (Davenport 2008). Is this hype, a tall claim or a realistic assessment?

Williams foresees Web 2.0 technologies “to transform service delivery, make smarter policies, flatten silos and, most importantly, reinvigorate democracy.” (Klein 2008).

Don Tapscott, the author of Growing Up Digital and Wikinomics has claimed that “government 2.0” was the most important change for government in more than a century (Davenport 2008). Is this hype, a tall claim or a realistic assessment?

VII. Conclusion Going by the earlier record of introduction of such innovations in government, Government 2.0 too will become a part of government. But it may have a limited impact on citizen empowerment and the way a government functions. Much will depend upon the government in opening up to citizens. Despite this sobering assessment, Government 2.0 is an ideal attempting to transform Gov to MyGov , as Eggers points out in his book Government 2.0 (Eggers 2007). Democracies worldwide have no choice but to pursue the ideal of Government 2.0 with full vigour.

Going by the earlier record of introduction of such innovations in government, Government 2.0 too will become a part of government.

But it may have a limited impact on citizen empowerment and the way a government functions.

Much will depend upon the government in opening up to citizens.

Despite this sobering assessment, Government 2.0 is an ideal attempting to transform Gov to MyGov , as Eggers points out in his book Government 2.0 (Eggers 2007).

Democracies worldwide have no choice but to pursue the ideal of Government 2.0 with full vigour.

End of Presentation From Author’s Forthcoming E-government: The New Frontier in Governance --Dr D.C.Misra

From Author’s Forthcoming

E-government:

The New Frontier in Governance

--Dr D.C.Misra