Comments on: Public sector wikis http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/ The public affairs practice in New Zealand Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:15:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mike Riversdale http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-327 Mike Riversdale Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:14:55 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-327 I almost agree with Che's <em>If the tool becomes obsolete it will be because it’s not useful, not because it is neglected.</em> - I would substitute the word "information" for "tool". As we know most people will struggle through a bad tool to get at available, findable and useful info ... if there is none of that "in it" then it'll wither and die. And again, I would almost agree with Jason's <em>I am more the ‘trial it internally and then soft launch a beta version’ sort of person.</em> - the trial is probably not (just) the chosen tool but the new approach, the new way of looking at this interaction with the public and being comfortable with the new "pointy bits" it may present to both the public and the agency. I almost agree with Che’s If the tool becomes obsolete it will be because it’s not useful, not because it is neglected. - I would substitute the word “information” for “tool”. As we know most people will struggle through a bad tool to get at available, findable and useful info … if there is none of that “in it” then it’ll wither and die.

And again, I would almost agree with Jason’s I am more the ‘trial it internally and then soft launch a beta version’ sort of person. - the trial is probably not (just) the chosen tool but the new approach, the new way of looking at this interaction with the public and being comfortable with the new “pointy bits” it may present to both the public and the agency.

]]> By: Jason Ryan http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-320 Jason Ryan Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:49:04 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-320 <p>A couple of obvious ones, from my perspective:</p> <ol> <li>don't promote the site to mainstream media too early, or before you have built up a community of 'chaperones.'</li> <li>be prepared to cede a degree of the editorial control to the community to foster those chaperones</li> <li>think carefully about what volume of participation you can reasonably deal with, and manage people's expectations around that <em>in advance</em></li> </ol> <p>Like I said, we will get better at this. Launching straight into engaging with the public over a (potentially) contentious issue is probably a more courageous approach than I would advocate. I am more the 'trial it internally and then soft launch a beta version' sort of person.</p> A couple of obvious ones, from my perspective:

  1. don’t promote the site to mainstream media too early, or before you have built up a community of ‘chaperones.’
  2. be prepared to cede a degree of the editorial control to the community to foster those chaperones
  3. think carefully about what volume of participation you can reasonably deal with, and manage people’s expectations around that in advance

Like I said, we will get better at this. Launching straight into engaging with the public over a (potentially) contentious issue is probably a more courageous approach than I would advocate. I am more the ‘trial it internally and then soft launch a beta version’ sort of person.

]]> By: Tim Jones http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-324 Tim Jones Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:04:00 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-324 Thanks for these examples, Jason. I see from your post <a href="http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/10/07/cost-of-social-media" title="The (real) cost of social media" rel="nofollow">The (real) cost of social media</a> that "The Police Act Review wiki ... was very quickly overwhelmed by the volume of contributions, resulting in it being shut down only days after it was launched." What lesson have been drawn (or could be drawn) from this experience, for future such projects? Regards Tim Thanks for these examples, Jason. I see from your post The (real) cost of social media that

“The Police Act Review wiki … was very quickly overwhelmed by the volume of contributions, resulting in it being shut down only days after it was launched.”

What lesson have been drawn (or could be drawn) from this experience, for future such projects?

Regards
Tim

]]> By: Jason Ryan http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-321 Jason Ryan Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:14:32 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-321 <p>Thanks Tim. The <a href="http://webstandards.govt.nz/index.php/Home_page" title="NZ Govt Web Standards Wiki" rel="nofollow">Web Standards Wiki</a> is a good example of a public sector wiki that is open to contributors outside government. And I posted last year about the <a href="http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/09/26/social-media-govt-consultation/" title="Post on govt consultation using social media" rel="nofollow">Police Act Review wiki</a> that generated headlines around the globe when it invited the public to comment on changes to the Act.</p> <p>These examples prove that government here is not too risk averse to deploy these tools and would also suggest that our use of them will only improve in terms of both breadth of application and sophistication.</p> Thanks Tim. The Web Standards Wiki is a good example of a public sector wiki that is open to contributors outside government. And I posted last year about the Police Act Review wiki that generated headlines around the globe when it invited the public to comment on changes to the Act.

These examples prove that government here is not too risk averse to deploy these tools and would also suggest that our use of them will only improve in terms of both breadth of application and sophistication.

]]> By: Tim Jones http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-322 Tim Jones Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:31:54 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-322 What really interests me about public sector wikis is whether their users - and in particular, those users who can update content - need to be confined to the public sector. I can see a lot of value in wikis on topics such as sustainability, energy, and climate change which are hosted within the public sector, but have input from users on both sides of the public sector fence. They could even be used as a more open way of managing public consultation on policy papers - albeit with safeguards - but would such wikis fall foul of public sector risk management and/or the Public Records Act? I'd be interested in your comment on this. What really interests me about public sector wikis is whether their users - and in particular, those users who can update content - need to be confined to the public sector. I can see a lot of value in wikis on topics such as sustainability, energy, and climate change which are hosted within the public sector, but have input from users on both sides of the public sector fence. They could even be used as a more open way of managing public consultation on policy papers - albeit with safeguards - but would such wikis fall foul of public sector risk management and/or the Public Records Act?

I’d be interested in your comment on this.

]]> By: Fergus Hogarth http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-326 Fergus Hogarth Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:34:00 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-326 Good points. I have been pondering a number of uses for a wiki in my agency, mostly for discreete projects involving 5-50 people rather than enterprise wide. If anyone has an info to share about their experiences it would be great to hear from you. Good points. I have been pondering a number of uses for a wiki in my agency, mostly for discreete projects involving 5-50 people rather than enterprise wide. If anyone has an info to share about their experiences it would be great to hear from you.

]]> By: Jason Ryan http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-325 Jason Ryan Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:06:06 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-325 <p>Thanks Che. Sounds like a good opportunity for a case study.</p> Thanks Che. Sounds like a good opportunity for a case study.

]]> By: Che Tibby http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-323 Che Tibby Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:17:48 +0000 http://www.psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2008/03/02/public-sector-wikis/#comment-323 In regard to resourcing, we are currently setting up a wiki with a very specific purpose. It's not there just for "information management", or as a "warehouse", but because it will become a vehicle to achieve an objective. The idea is to mitigate entrophy by ensuring that a dedicated research team (the 1%ers you mention), are <i>required</i> to use/maintain it. If the tool becomes obsolete it will be because it's not useful, not because it is neglected. In regard to resourcing, we are currently setting up a wiki with a very specific purpose. It’s not there just for “information management”, or as a “warehouse”, but because it will become a vehicle to achieve an objective.

The idea is to mitigate entrophy by ensuring that a dedicated research team (the 1%ers you mention), are required to use/maintain it. If the tool becomes obsolete it will be because it’s not useful, not because it is neglected.

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