Innovation in Government: How to Make the Public Sector Faster, Smarter and More Connected

The Obama administration recently launched a long-awaited Open Government Initiative, which invites citizens to submit ideas via the Internet for creating a more transparent, collaborative and participatory government. Few developments have had broader consequences for the public sector than the introduction of the Internet and digital technology. When used in the public sector, technology has the potential to make democracy stronger and enable governments to meet citizens’ needs more simply, quickly and efficiently.

On June 17, Brookings hosted an event on how new technology can make the public sector perform faster and smarter. Brookings Vice President and Director of Governance Studies Darrell West released a new study, Comparing Technology Innovation in the Private and Public Sectors. West was joined by Beth Simone Noveck, New York University Law Professor, deputy chief technology officer of the White House Office of Open Government and author of Wiki Government (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), and Carmen Sirianni, author of Investing in Democracy: Engaging Citizens in Collaborative Governance (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).

After the program, panelists took audience questions.