IT-based government : Icebergs or Ice Creams?

The comprehensive spending review (CSR) of the UK government has been announced this week (Oct 20th 2010). As a summary, it provides some indication of the funding cuts and increases that the government will undertake in the next five (5) years.

I say indication because reviews and their numbers only give us indications...only that (?).

Whilst some areas have been protected from 'cuts' in the review, others are said to be intervened with the aim of reducing the deficit that public spending has had in the last few years. This can help tackling the present and potential negative effects of the global economic recession. As I have heard UK government officials say, this government has to both achieve efficiencies and improve relationships with citizens. All with the help of information technologies. In the so-called protected areas, the government is gambling on the power of information technology to help in the delivery of public services, and also in the achievement of efficiencies and economies of scale. Therefore important IT investments are to be secured if not maintained. The 'banking' mentality that it is cheaper, faster, safer and more efficient to offer information and services online than it is offline has now entered in full suite into government affairs. But as several researchers have pointed out, this sort of mentality has to co-exist with the mentalities of government. Here is a couple of examples:

• "HM Revenue and Customs's budget will be expected to find resource savings of 15% through the better use of new technology and greater efficiency, while spending £900 million more on targeting tax evasion and fraud to help collect a missing £7 billion in tax revenues" (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/main-points-from-the-comprehensive-spending-review-2111727.html)

• The government has pledged to invest £530 million to support the UK’s broadband network and to enable the roll out of superfast broadband in areas that the private sector would not otherwise reach (http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/government-announces-530m-broadband-investment-10767)
  

Mmm, interesting...

Or contradictory.

About the latter, is there a way to live with this and many other contradictions that we will see emerging in the next few years in IT-based governments? Here are two thoughts:

• First, we need to stop assuming that change is about technology implementation. For many years, people have talked about socio-technical systems rather than simply technical systems. Technical systems do not exist or develop in a vacuum. They are the outcome and medium of the social context in which they are (to be) implemented.

• Second, not everything appears to be bad news, if we also conceive of government as a complex phenomenon in which different types of practices, technologies, regulations and groups of individuals intersect. Government is not anymore about a lineal process of governments delivering rules and services to citizens. It can be better seen as an iterative, unpredictable and emerging set of processes.

My hope is that these thoughts can lead us to see that things can turn into our own benefits as citizens, but also that IT companies and other actors in the business of government can and should be involved in producing the new IT-based government.

An example of the new space of possibilities that is emerging is that of cloud computing for government, which has been called the g-cloud. Governments around the world are thinking of placing their information and infrastructures to manage it 'in the cloud'; that will give ubiquitous access to information whilst reducing the burden (and cost) of its supporting infrastructure. A recent review of the g-cloud strategy of the UK government can be found in the following link: http://quocirca.computing.co.uk/2010/04/whats-the-future-for-gcloud.html

In terms of cost, the g-cloud offers flexibility and scalability, meaning that information services can be bought on demand. The cloud needs to co-exist with information management practices, rules, norms and attitudes.

At first, unless you are a 'techie', the cloud can become an iceberg, something you do not want to clash with in your job, even if it appears to be 'simple' to implement, as the figure shows:


http://communication.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing.htm

But if we think that the cloud is just part of a new arrangement of things as described previously, and which will require a social environment to develop successfully, we can then see how we can be part of it.

How?

• Well, if you are a 'techie', try to see where you can offer your services within the architecture of cloud services. As far as I know, there are infrastructure, services, management applications and end-user applications. If governments are to make use of the g-cloud, then they will need your expertise in connecting their old infrastructures and applications to the cloud. We already know small companies that are part of bigger networks of providers which together provide cloud services.

• If you are a manager, you can then try to link your organisation's strategy to that of the cloud, so that you decide where you can make the best of your cloud use. You do not need to transfer everything to the cloud. You will need though, to prepare yourself and your people to manage information services. There is an imperative to better understand how the cloud can deliver benefits in the long term beyond the short term cost and efficiencies.

• If you just want to be a citizen, my view is that no one is asking you to become a full cyber-citizen. Governments and IT providers need you, in principle to consult on services that are to be transferred to the online world; you can voice your concerns, although the process of taking them forward is not clear yet in countries like the UK (they seem to listen to you, take suggestions on board, but then decide on what they think is important and feasible).

Regardless of the effects of what this could generate in the future, I think you can go beyond that. You can set up your own community if not join an existing one, so that you can access information and knowledge that you need. If you are an academic like me, join me in the newly set up technology and governance network. We will continue discussing effects, implications and possibilities of the new government with IT.

One last thought: Just be careful about what you wish for, you might find that what appears to be an iceberg turns out to be a fully flavored ice cream! If that is the case, there is no other alternative than enjoying it while it lasts...