Web 2.0: Not If, But When and How for Federal Managers

[Federal News Radio]

Steve O’Keeffe
Founder, MeriTalk


Whether or not you believe in Web 2.0 as a lasting social evolution is absolutely irrelevant. The reality is that Generation Y is heavily invested in Web 2.0 as a preferred channel for gathering information. With 42 million expected Generation Y votes in play for the 2008 election, presidential candidates have and will continue to launch large-scale Web 2.0 campaigns to solicit and build support among this second-largest voting block. And, if candidates campaign and win using Web 2.0, they will need to govern and lead using Web 2.0 – a policy change that will significantly impact every Federal manager by this time next year.

MeriTalk (www.meritalk.com), an online community at the crossroads of IT and public policy, recently released the “Generation Y’s Bill of Rights” study (http://www.meritalk.com/pdfs/MeriTalk-Generation-Ys-Bill-of-Rights.pdf) providing the presidential candidates new insight on how Generation Y gets information and makes recommendations for reaching and engaging this critical constituency. The report not only underscores the substantial differences in how Ys and baby boomers (the largest and most-active voting block) learn about and participate in government and politics, but also shows that Ys in various geographies have different information channel preferences.

Considering the approaching election, each party is quickly recognizing the importance of Web 2.0 in political communication and the Generation Y demographic. While the youth vote has historically under participated in elections, 73 percent of eligible Generation Y voters have expressed the intent to vote in the 2008 election. Currently, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Democratic Party is commanding Web 2.0 real estate and Senator Barack Obama is leading the Gen Y ranks with 71 percent asserting that a democratic candidate is best suited to lead the next administration. That said, Generation Y voters are more loyal to issues than to parties and 75 percent of Generation Y respondents noted that they are willing to vote across party lines in favor of candidates’ issue priorities – read: their votes are still in play.

Clearly, Generation Y is ready for change and ready to participate in the process. With 15 percent of survey respondents noting that they currently do not feel a personal connection with their government, we have an enormous opportunity to reach and engage this massive constituency and in a way that does not end on Inauguration Day. The next administration will need to continue to communicate earnest and genuine information via Web 2.0 technology to maintain the loyalty and support of Generation Y.

We know that this change is coming, and we have the opportunity to harness Web 2.0 to drive the most exciting reinvigoration of government in a generation – Government 2.0. The technology doesn’t just give us better tools for elections, it gives us better tools for governance. Using technology, Federal managers will be able to directly communicate with key stakeholders, rapidly build consensus, quickly reach experts, and broadly reach other Federal managers grappling with similar problems.

The critical remaining question is, “How?” There is a risk in ceding policy discourse to venues dedicated to games, jokes, videos, and adult content. To avoid that risk, Federal managers need a forum for looking at policy that is specifically tailored to their needs and requirements – a site that delivers Web 2.0 tools along with a community cognizant of the unique operating needs and limitations of government professionals. Enter MeriTalk.

What is MeriTalk? And Who is Involved?
IT is enabling significant changes in our government. The implications for average Americans are profound. The voice of tomorrow's government today, MeriTalk is an online community at the crossroads of IT and public policy. Designed to mix new faces, new voices, and fresh perspectives from government IT, workforce, and policy leaders, MeriTalk enables new cross-cutting debate. MeriTalk includes numerous former and current government leaders are weighing in at MeriTalk.

MeriTalk provides at platform for every citizen to interact with public officials – both prior to, and following, the election. A step forward in how government should interact with citizens, MeriTalk removes time and place barriers to citizens’ participation in government – it links the civil servant directly with the citizen customer. Te platform is open to everyone. Bringing thought leadership and a repository of current, peer-reviewed information, we encourage you to get involved at MeriTalk.

Developed as a community response, MeriTalk is a partnership among the United Service Organizations (USO), Federal Employee Defense Services (FEDS), Federal Managers Association (FMA), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), New Ideas for Government, and WTOP/WFED. For more information about MeriTalk, please visit www.meritalk.com