Power of Information Richard Stirling 16 March 2009

Quick history of the Power of Information Review – Early 2007 Independent review by Tom Steinberg and Ed Mayo started in early 2007 Published 8 th June 2007 and made two broad findings: People are talking about social issues online Government should join the conversation Maximise value if government publishes information Show Us A Better Way, Rewired state Response – June 2007 Government accepted report Steady progress Taskforce – March 2008 Tom Watson set up Taskforce to drive agenda forward Rapid innovation and change Final report published 2 weeks ago http://poit.cabinetoffice.gov.uk 25 detailed recommendations

Review – Early 2007

Independent review by Tom Steinberg and Ed Mayo started in early 2007

Published 8 th June 2007 and made two broad findings:

People are talking about social issues online Government should join the conversation

Maximise value if government publishes information Show Us A Better Way, Rewired state

Response – June 2007

Government accepted report

Steady progress

Taskforce – March 2008

Tom Watson set up Taskforce to drive agenda forward

Rapid innovation and change

Final report published 2 weeks ago http://poit.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

25 detailed recommendations

Today? I believe government has been much too slow to make use of the enormous democratising power of information. People take it for granted that they will access other people’s reviews and ratings before buying something on eBay or Amazon, and yet we do not yet have systematic access to other people’s experiences when choosing a GP practice or nursery. We have clearly got the balance wrong when online businesses have higher standards of transparency than the public services we pay for and support. In this instance, knowledge is power. When we give people knowledge about their public services, we give them power over them; power to shape and even transform them Prime Minister Working together – Public services on your side 10 March 2009

I believe government has been much too slow to make use of the enormous democratising power of information. People take it for granted that they will access other people’s reviews and ratings before buying something on eBay or Amazon, and yet we do not yet have systematic access to other people’s experiences when choosing a GP practice or nursery.

We have clearly got the balance wrong when online businesses have higher standards of transparency than the public services we pay for and support. In this instance, knowledge is power. When we give people knowledge about their public services, we give them power over them; power to shape and even transform them

Prime Minister

Working together – Public services on your side

10 March 2009

Theory " Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get technologically boring, " Clay Shirky Economics Information is a non-rival good Marginal cost of distribution is zero online Maximum social and economic value from online dist Financial These changes are low cost - £10ks not £100ks or £1ms Build on existing ICT reforms Risk Reputational risk – Measured steps and have all usual responses

" Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get technologically boring, "

Clay Shirky

Economics

Information is a non-rival good

Marginal cost of distribution is zero online

Maximum social and economic value from online dist

Financial

These changes are low cost - £10ks not £100ks or £1ms

Build on existing ICT reforms

Risk

Reputational risk – Measured steps and have all usual responses

Four key themes “ I’m doing a (free) operating system … I’d like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won’t promise I’ll implement them :-) ” — Linus Torvald (Linux) Open discussion Open information Open feedback Open innovation

“ I’m doing a (free) operating system … I’d like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won’t promise I’ll implement them :-) ”

— Linus Torvald (Linux)

Open discussion

Open information

Open feedback

Open innovation

Open Discussion

Open Discussion

Open Discussion Joining in these discussion is: Low Risk Low Cost Allow civil servants in online media UK published guidance June 2008 www.civilservice.gov.uk Make sure staff can see the sites Reward staff for helping people both online and offline

Joining in these discussion is:

Low Risk

Low Cost

Allow civil servants in online media

UK published guidance June 2008

www.civilservice.gov.uk

Make sure staff can see the sites

Reward staff for helping people

both online and offline

Open Feedback

Open Feedback

Open Feedback

Open Innovation

Open Innovation

Open Innovation

Open Innovation

Open information

Open Information

Open Information

Open Information

So how do I do this? Challenges Skills Examples Who do we copy? Hierarchy Solutions Experiment Demonstrate Build networks Seek external talent

Challenges

Skills

Examples

Who do we copy?

Hierarchy

Solutions

Experiment

Demonstrate

Build networks

Seek external talent

Contact Details Report: http://poit.cabinetoffice.gov.uk Blog: http://powerofinformation.wordpress.com Innovation: http://innovate.direct.gov.uk Minister: @tom_watson Twitter: @rchards

Report: http://poit.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Blog: http://powerofinformation.wordpress.com

Innovation: http://innovate.direct.gov.uk

Minister: @tom_watson

Twitter: @rchards