The Open Government Dialogue is getting started!

[Eugene Boeldak]

How can we strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness by making government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative?
On January 21st, the President of the USA issued the Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, calling for an unprecedented level of openness in government. In the memorandum, the President outlined three principles for promoting a transparent and open government: transparency, participation, and collaboration. Now, the President is calling on you to help shape how that commitment is fulfilled. This online brainstorming session on http://opengov.ideascale.com, open from May 21st to 28th, 2009, will enable the White House to hear your most important ideas relating to open government.

This platform allows you to submit ideas, discuss and refine others' ideas, and vote the best ones to the top. We are seeking innovative approaches to policy, specific project suggestions, government-wide or agency-specific instructions, and any relevant examples and stories relating to law, policy, technology, culture, or practice. The National Academy of Public Administration, a Congressionally chartered, non-profit, non-partisan institution, is hosting this brainstorming session on behalf of the White House.

The most important themes and ideas to emerge will provide the basis for two more stages of interaction: A Discussion Phase, when we will deepen the conversation about compelling topics raised during the brainstorming, and a Drafting Phase, when we will ask you to use a wiki to draft language for recommendations collaboratively.
Some questions to consider in formulating ideas include:
How might the operations of government be made more transparent and accountable?
How might federal advisory committees, rulemaking or electronic rulemaking be better used to drive greater expertise into decisionmaking?
What alternative models exist to improve the quality of decisionmaking and increase opportunities for citizen participation?
What strategies might be employed to adopt greater use of Web 2.0 in agencies?
What policy impediments to innovation in government currently exist?
What is the best way to change the culture of government to embrace collaboration?
What changes in training or hiring of personnel would enhance innovation?
What performance measures are necessary to determine the effectiveness of open government policies?