UK Government Unlocking a Better Way
The networked democracy arena is moving at a fast pace in the UK, with the UK Cabinet Office recently setting up a Power of Information Taskforce to oversee and direct the possibilities provided by opening up access to government data. Richard Allen from the taskforce has met with people behind OpenAustralia (a.k.a. Australia’s TheyWorkForYou), on a recent trip to Australia.
During the Taskforce’s presentation at OpenTech 2008 on Saturday, the UK Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) launched a Public Sector Information Unlocking Service. The service allows those in the UK to lodge complaints if they have problems getting hold of the information they need in the formats they want. If the problem relates to an issue specifically covered by re-use regulations, they’ll treat it accordingly. I’m not sure if we have a similar service in New Zealand.
Last week, the Power of Information Taskforce launched Show us a Better Way, a competition to suggest ideas for how unlocked public data can be mashed in to services for the public. The winner will get £20,000 to fund an implementation.
A recent article in the Guardian mentioning an NHS £6.5 million project failure got me thinking.
Here’s an idea: record the cost of all IT failures across the UK government in a year, and put up an equivalent amount to fund digital pioneers as they do in the Netherlands. An amount of £6.5 million would fund 325 projects at £20,000 a pop. While we’re at it, the New Zealand government could do the same. Who can help me get the data on IT project failures?
