Costis Toregas Business Process Reengineering Subscribe to Newsletter Tell a Friend Print this Page 07/04/2007 Is There Room for the Iphone in Government? Getting governments to rethink services with today’s tools is a challenge. Being on the bleeding edge of technology may be viewed as a sure way to make waves, to put one’s career in jeopardy and challenge that idyllic retirement dream… and yet, every day the market place is rocked by new technology that offers the chance to improve the way enterprises approach their challenges.     The most recent such splash was made when Apple brought out their much-anticipated Iphone last week. Hundreds of thousands of consumers stood in line for hours to be the first to turn on that sleek device and have their digital mobile experience streamlined. Looking at the photographs of the long lines outside the outlet stores, I wondered whether any of the workers were government employees, and whether any governmental services were about to be re-organized with the I- experience…     I’m going to guess No! And, my dear readers, I think that you and I as tax payers are the losers. I am not speaking of any particular device, but rather all new innovations that never see the light of a governmental appropriation because they are “too new” or may challenge existing processes and work flows. What is streamlining for you may be job-threatening or power-reducing for me, and I will do my best to postpone the introduction of any innovative technologies in my work place…     How could such resistive thinking be reduced or eliminated? Through smart pilots in non-threatening areas, through effective matching of technology to urgent, high-impact needs and with the easy provision of investment funds that permit experimentation of new processes, a governmental agency could develop a more progressive work place. Beyond bringing in new technologies, innovative experimentation could bring in process improvement from the ground up! Front line workers might begin to change their daily routine to take advantage of the new technology, and all of a sudden find themselves sculpting a new pattern of work that produces better results, possibly with less effort and with career-enhancing potential. Synergy with other people and other technologies could also be affected; new technologies almost always open new doors and create bridges to other arenas of work. The Iphone has a great bridging effect to municipal WiFi “clouds” and would promote their deployment since the current arrangements for Iphone connectivity can be enhanced through WiFi links. What a combination!     So perhaps we ought to encourage governmental officials to consider standing in front of the line for the next technology innovation. Designing an innovation program around it, encouraging workers to think outside the box and follow the technology to its natural niche could bring considerable, positive results. So next time you walk by a group of governmental workers, throw them an Iphone and stand back- the results could be explosive!   Costis Toregas is President Emeritus, Public Technology Institute, and a lecturer at George Washington University. He chairs the Business Processes reengineering Roundtable at the W2i Digital Cities Convention.  back Related Items: • Groningen • W2i Finalizes Program Agenda for Digital Cities Convention in Washington, DC • City Services Drive Network in St. Louis • New-Technology Rollouts: Avoid Putting Lipstick on the Pig! • Doug Townsend, IT Director, Medford (OR) - Part 2 Comments No records were found. Post new comment: Only registered users can add comments. Please Log-in

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