Edmonton Open City Workshop – International
As many know the City of Edmonton’s Open City Workshop is scheduled to start tomorrow at 10am MST and run until 4pm MST and this will be the first “unconference” to happen at the new Art Gallery of Alberta. What is really cool is that the City will be making some interesting announcements tomorrow and I know from the list of registered attendees that the room is going to be filled with great people. Another fascinating thing is how this has all evolved. The evolution that is happening surrounding this event and the Open Data movement right here in the region is simply amazing to be a part of.
Below is a 2-minute video of the City of Edmonton’s Chief Information Officer, Chris Moore speaking about Open Data in relation to tomorrow’s big event, as well as, continuing the vision forward.
As mentioned, the stage is set for the regional Open Data movement to continue to travel leaps and bounds. The list of folks scheduled to be in the room or participating online is diverse and represents our region, province, country and international friends from many angles and that goes directly to how well the communications about what’s going on has penetrated and inspired folks to take action, all this since the first event on November 21, 2009. Whether that be through the use of social or traditional media, the results are clear.
Just this week, Edmonton was recognized as a leader in the Open Data movement during a major announcement by San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom in the United States regarding their National Open 311 initiative.
Please see the video below and pay careful attention to the organizations listed in the background.
How can you participate?
Well first, if you have an opportunity please come out in person and participate directly in the “unconference.” Secondly, if you are unable to attend in person, then you are invited to watch the live video stream. Further, anyone in the world may also “embed” the live video stream into their website, blog, etc…
Why would you want to do that? Those who are considering an Open Data initiative in their region may want to communicate and educate certain local audiences that frequent their site. You now have that opportunity, thanks to the City of Edmonton’s willingness to share with other communities, not only here in Alberta and in Canada, but also around the world. I’ve had personal discussions with people from the US, Australia, even with Annemarie van Campen who is excited about the Dutch “fresh government” Open Data initiative. I love the “fresh government” tagline, it’s brilliant. We won’t be able to tell or communicate leading up the event as to everyone whom might be planning to carry the feed unless someone confirms that ahead of time, so please tell us here if you can. Such as in the case of Nick Charney and his very popular Gov 2.0 cpsrenewal blog Nick is also going to be a panelist here in Edmonton. I’d also like to mention once again how cool it is for the Edmonton Journal and GovLoop.com to be participating as mentioned in a previous post.
The team
I know one thing for sure, regardless of the really great discussion, ideas and thoughts shared tomorrow at the workshop. You should be very proud of the City of Edmonton event planning team. This takes a lot of effort to properly represent the fourth largest city in Canada on such an important subject.
Councillor Don Iveson, Chris Moore, Jacob Modayil, Scott Lundy, Jason Darrah, James Rugge- Price, Devin Serink, Raffaella Loro and Ashley Casovan who has been rock solid in terms of keeping everyone marching forward to ensure the event is terrific, that’s a tough gig regardless and she’s handled it very well so far I thought. I’d also like to mention our project team, Evan Adnams, Kelly Lalonde and Genoa Adnams who have been working hard on this project to ensure our first ever (and I believe for the city as well) “bilingual” webcast goes without a hitch.
Due to everyone’s hard work, increased awareness and even recognition for this region and the Open Data work has already happened prior to the event itself taking place and that’s something to be proud of. Of course, there is a lot of work still ahead and yet, clearly the momentum is building going into tomorrow and that I must say is highly cool.
City of Edmonton Update
When people ask the question – How do you measure the return on social media? I typically respond with some basic fundamentals in mind and always refer to the fact that it depends on what the specific objectives were to begin with.
Can you measure buzz and awareness?
Absolutely, several different ways in fact. This is where the use of social media is a no-brainer as a starting place. In the case of the City of Edmonton and the upcoming Open City Workshop (register here space left is limited) my opinion is that increased awareness is critical. Sharing ideas, listening and educating new audiences as to what Open Data is will be one of many messages I expect to come out of Saturday. Further, software developers local and non-local alike are no doubt excited to hear about upcoming announcements, the vision in general and how they may play a direct role.
Magnify the effect through sharing
One of the fundamentals of Government 2.0 is participation. The social web, in particular the government 2.0 segment of the social web is already responding to what the City of Edmonton is doing. By agreeing to share the live bilingual webcast feed (a first for the City and very progressive by anyone’s standards in government) with anyone who would like to embed the feed on their site, it’s already opened up new communications doors for the City of Edmonton brand. Not the least of which is GovLoop.com out of Florida. With over 25000 Gov 2.0 community members having the stream featured on the home page of this site is important for the purposes of building international credibility and awareness for the Open Data movement and the City of Edmonton.
Here is another example on Mashable.com of the buzz potential surrounding what’s happening here. Evan from our team made sure to mention in the comments what we’re all up to, nicely done Evan. One never knows who may choose to watch and participate in the online discussion as a result and where that will lead, only time will tell.
Further, the media is also getting into the act and so you can expect to find the feed on one or more major traditional media websites on Saturday too. In fact, the Edmonton Journal has authorized me to let everyone know that they’re excited to be carrying the feed, it’s so great that they’re participating and helping to spread the word about Open Data.
The bounce
What can we expect short to mid-term out of this effort on behalf of the City’s IT and Communications collaborative efforts? In politics and other circles it might be called the “bounce.” I predict that Edmonton area companies, the Alberta and federal governments, more than one post-secondary institution, as well as, countless folks outside the region will definitely see all kinds of opportunity coming out of Saturday.
I also think City Council and administration in Edmonton (and others whom I know are watching closely) will be able to witness first hand just how much the City of Edmonton is quickly moving towards being a strong model for Open Government. Saturday will prove yet again that working in real-time with citizens can be extremely beneficial and not something to be feared but embraced. That sharing our plans with the world outside our region is progressive and it too will benefit the local economy and attract new people, business and brand awareness. The Edmonton area (I’m in Sherwood Park) is a great place to live, work and play.
Open City Workshop
The Open Government force is strong here in Edmonton, Alberta. This Saturday March 6th, 2010 the City of Edmonton will be hosting the next Open Data related event to help citizens understand why this is so important. Whether, you’re in government, a business person or private citizen, I recommend attending or participating online. Your voice is important.
Live!
Here’s a special twist. fusedlogic is proud to announce that we’ve been hired by the City of Edmonton to provide a live bilingual webcast of the event. We’ve twisted the City’s arm (it didn’t take much) and asked if we could provide the live stream to others who may want to share it. They said yes.
Hello embed code! If you’d like to generate traffic and attention to your Government 2.0 focused blog, website or community this is a terrific opportunity to provide content to your online community. If you’re in the media and would like to have the stream on your site, let a thousand flowers bloom.
The City of Edmonton is listening to your Open Data ideas and they’re acting on it.
The spirit of this event is to share ideas and thoughts, learn and collaborate on the way forward. It’s events like this that help to shape a city, everyone’s job is to come out and contribute directly or online.
Trust
One of the fundamental elements of an Open Government is trust. The City of Edmonton said it would open its’ data, it has. The City of Edmonton said it would expand this Open Data movement to the entire region so as to benefit all citizens, it is. Citizens are often skeptical of government for many reasons not the least of which is they don’t feel their voice will be heard. The City of Edmonton’s IT Branch is listening and led by Councillor Don Iveson, CIO Chris Moore, and the team in the IT Branch they’re acting on it. Look out folks, this is only the beginning.
Special Guests: 3 impressive Open Government minds are flying in to Edmonton to participate on a Open Government panel. David Eaves, Mark Kuznicki and Nicholas Charney I expect this to be great fun, and a tremendous learning experience.
See you on Saturday and follow along on Twitter using the Twitter hashtag – “yegdata”
Embed code will be provided for you on our site here: http://fusedlogic.tv/events/yegdata/
More information on the event itself is on the City of Edmonton’s website
Register here to attend the FREE Open City Workshop
Open Government – Open Hearts
What does success look like when engaging in social media?
If you have set out a plan and defined success that’s great and, I wonder if your plan also includes how to build consensus?
Many in Government 2.0 circles talk about the need for increased openness and transparency between government and citizens. While this is critical as a direction, we should dig deeper and explore what has to happen in order to facilitate such an outcome. In addition to educating the right people in government and citizens alike as to what an Open Government looks, smells and operates like, we need to address the “power struggle” and cynicism which usually undermines everything. This battle takes place below the surface and behind closed doors, and can have many faces.
For example, a government I.T. department doesn’t want to allow outside technologies into their network. They claim security and effective systems administration as the reason. This does a number of things simultaneously, including the retention of control of a locked down system designed to stifle any innovation left within. Just ask the Health Canada employees who attempted to tune into a live webcast we did recently where the landing page for the stream was blocked. Health Canada bosses couldn’t tune in to an event they paid for and no amount of requests sent to I.T. was going to change that reality. Maybe you live and work in such an environment, where this type of Open Government/Open Organization battle is taking place as we speak. Building consensus is very difficult and very costly as a result. Why say yes today when you can drag out the discussion for months, using every excuse possible in order to justify your existence?
Here’s an NYT article on how the US Department of Defense is moving forward with their social media policy. When you dig below the surface, there is certainly evidence of issues and skeptism. Despite all of this, the directive has been given and so now comes the actual implementation of the policies.
The combatants do not always include the I.T. command and control group versus the entire organization. The sabre rattling can also include mid-level executives who have little recourse to prevent change (in their language – more work) in their world than to engage in “passive-aggressive” war games with evangelist colleagues. They state support publicly for the course ahead while quietly and tactically undermining the project like a nearly silent virus. Frustrating the hell out of co-workers who have great intentions. If this is allowed to persist it rips at the very fabric of the corporate culture and good people leave as a result of a few poisonous apples.
Open Government, indeed an open and innovative organization is a result of “open hearts”
For me, in the case above, success is defined in many ways. Not the least of which includes the early detection of committed open hearts and minds within the organization in question. You can tell the difference pretty quickly. People either stand for being innovative and for collaboration or they see fear at every turn. They either see the possibility of solutions or they see barriers. Here’s an example, compare the Twitter feed of your favourite elected official to that of Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey. Do you think Mayor Booker would be open to his municipality embracing Government 2.0? This is a Mayor who replies to direct comments about the clearing of snow on his roads. That alone is worth remarking about.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear – Chinese proverb
We come across clients all the time who want an hourly rate for a few simple social media solutions, essentially they don’t understand what they’re asking about so they look to limit risk and exposure to the project without stalling it completely. Consensus is far easier to build on a foundation of respect and rapport and, if they’re ready to learn then great things can happen. We’re in the social media education business in many ways, and yet, if hearts and minds are closed for business there’s little we can do.
This may sound like I’ve pinned success on warm and fuzzy, vague constructs and in reality that’s not true. There are metrics to be aware of, objectives to be identified and a strategy to be constructed including which tools to use when and how. Having said that, building consensus and momentum for change involving Open Data and/or the deployment of social media within government and businesses often takes much more.
Building consensus is about “open hearts and motivated minds” and our experience has shown that you can’t have a successful social media or Open Government result without starting here first.
AUMA Mayors’ Caucuses Presentation
Wow, what a wonderful couple of days with great people.
Alberta has some really terrific elected officials at the municipal level and AUMA as an organization is doing some amazing things. As we found out today with the joint-announcement made with the AUMA, Government of Alberta and AAMDC covering the new Municipal Climate Change Centre to be housed at the new AUMA building.
Below are the presentations that I referenced several times of the course of the two days for you to use and in the case of the PPT you can download that, I just ask that you continue to keep the branding in place and provide credit as have done…
