Welcome to FL2iGov

Alfredo Sanchez — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:36:53 GMT

Introduction

The Florida 2.0 Initiative (FL2i) promotes the use of next-generation Web technologies in the State of Florida. FL2i’s role is not about creating just another social network, it aims at developing an online community that interacts with the most popular Web 2.0 sites, creating and sharing unique content about Florida and fostering innovation. FL2i works with Advisory Groups formed by thought leaders from across the State in various areas of common interest. FL2i launched a beta program to test the technology platform and develop examples of social software use (e.g., blogs, discussions, polls, RSS feeds, member’s wall, messaging center, web conferencing for virtual meetings and webinars). Featured news, articles and videos have been included around relevant topics throughout the FL2i wiki pages. The FL2i beta sites were not intended to be fancy in terms of design at this stage of the project, but flexible in order to adapt to requirements and innovation as the State 2.0 project advances. FL2i beta deployment does not consider promoting membership until FL2i's infrastructure and sustainability model are in place. All pilot efforts during this phase have focused on small groups with temporary but relevant objectives. Initial topics of interest and discussion categories have been defined by the FL2i Advisory Groups while the core technology is being tested during the FL2i beta program.

FL2i Innovation Government

Federal government is promoting the use of social media by federal and state agencies. There are many federal government and nonprofit resources available today to endorse the use of social media by governement, including interesting efforts such as the Social Media Subcouncil. As a result of the FL2i Government Advisory Group discussions, this site focuses on innovation government, assuming social media as an essential tool for innovation. We focus on Government 2.0, Gov 2.0 issues and concerns and Gov 2.0 use cases, as well as federal and nonprofit resources that support innovative changes in government . Some relevant parts oif innovation government included in this site are: reducing the digital divide and increasing digital literacy, Transparency 2.0 and open government and social innovation.

The site will focus on state, counties and cities. Some of the topics of interest defined in our interaction with the Government Advisory Group are agency-to-agency collaboration, agency-to-constituency collaboration and intra-agency collaboration. Some of the most relevant barriers to adopt social media identified on the wiki are digital identity, privacy, security, records management, social media governance and social media terms of service. The first Advisory Group meeting took place coordinated by the Institute of Government using the South East Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) web conferencing capabilities. Discussion group and blog pages are ready for the workgroup to lead the way before the FL2iGov site is launched. FL2i Broadband allows members to subscribe to content and receive notifications via e-mail or RSS:

When a member invites a person to join (e-mail)
When a member writes a message on other members’ wall (e-mail)
When a member receives a message on the Message Center
When a member subscribes to a discussion forum and a new message is posted by another member (e-mail and RSS)
When any member replies to a blog (RSS)

FL2i efforts aim at evangelizing on new Web technologies and promoting the use of social media to reach out to Florida counties and cities, including its RACEC communities, to support innovation in State government. FL2i tools can be very effective to: a) inform about economic stimulus for Government modernization; b) support stakeholders to optimize Government services g; c) enable a direct channel to voice citizen’s requirements and ideas; d) promote intra- and inter-agency collaboration without the need for traveling and making frequent conference calls; and e) support transparency in Government processes. Government agencies at federal and state levels will define in the future the metrics for measuring the results of innovation government changes. Polls and surveys published on the FL2iGov site can be useful to collect support data around these metrics. Once new processes and government services are launched, regional communities can provide feedback on their progresss, complementing the information gathered by authorities and enabling an open and transparent channel to exchange experiences and comment on the impact that those processes and services had on their communities.

Web 2.0, the Social Web, is a valuable resource for sustainable economic development. Florida has an opportunity to innovate in this space. The first phase of the FL2i project has focused on developing connections with thought leaders and Government agencies to identify areas of opportunity and purposes that can benefit from the use of a Florida social network.

Advancing Florida with tech tools

Ric Dugger — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:22:14 GMT

In today's world, government can best advance its value for and service to the people by focusing on three fronts. Enhancing collaboration across the traditional boundaries of government, improving bi-directional communications with the people and empowering productivity and service quality through progressive technologies.

FL2i is a set of public service innovative tools based on web 2.0 and 3.0 that are positioned to enable Florida government to address all three of these fronts effectively. On August 19, 2009 the Florida Institute of Government is teaming with FL2i to launch a Government Advisory Group to provide thought leadership to this cause. People in various leadership roles from many segments of government in Florida are coming together to share knowledge, experience and skills for the purpose of advancing our state, our people and to strengthen how we work to serve. The leaders willing to invest their time and energy are appreciated and together we can advance our State by engaging innovative technologies.