As technologists, we cannot overlook the technologically driven phenomenon of mass collaboration. Social computing tools such as Wikis, blogs, instant messaging, MySpace, YouTube and mail list servers (to mention just a few), are transforming not only the mode of communication, but the culture of communication right under our noses. Indeed, the successful IT organizations will harness this culture not only to serve their companies, but also to transform and enhance their own roles.
Bottom-up knowledge creation is not just changing the traditional roles of IT departments (Governance, Strategy, Coordination, Project Management, Acquisition . . .), it is obliterating them. As a pragmatist and I do not believe the hype of technological innovations until I have had experience of it myself. For the betterment of my organizationa and constituents, I investigate real-life examples of how to harness the media, culture, and economics to transform and facilitate collaboration in the increasingly dynamic environment. Specifically I am implementing in areas related to strategic planning, project management, requirements analysis, service oriented approaches, vendor management - and most importantly, learning to use the inexorable fluidity to achieve objectives without loss of sanity (or job)!
Wikipedia and MediaWiki are two exemplary examples of not only superb product, but a beacon for the implementation process, through collaboration, for the next generation of IT development.
My primary interest is to observe and learn the best practices used in the development of MediaWiki and transform those practices into government with a secondary interest of extending the functionality of MediaWiki to the intranet world (note this does not mean change the primary direction of fully open collaboration, but only providing extended functionality where closed community-based peer collaboration is necessary). Yeah, I know, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you", but maybe this could a small part of increasing openness in government while lowering costs.
Two extensions to date:
1) DiscussionThreading (http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:DiscussionThreading) - a primitive extension to discussion pages to make them listserv-like with threading of discussions and responses. 2) ImageLockdown capability (not released, but see http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension_talk:Lockdown#Image_Lockdown_--Makar _17:35.2C_20_August_2007_.28UTC.29)
Still waiting for SVN access to post DiscussionThreading extension.
Jack D. Pond CIO, Montgomery County, PA (610)278-5200
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." -- African Proverb
Bio:
Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Jack has extensive background drawing on more than 25 years of management and consulting experience.
Jack has planned and executed high-tech projects employing a variety of technologies spanning telecommunications, converged data and voice networks, enterprise software systems, and enterprise infrastructure. He has overseen implementations in client/server, open systems, mainframe, and Internet platforms, and he has a strong personal interest in the use of the Internet to conduct electronic commerce. Additionally, Jack has worked on the creation and development of both network and data operation centers for large organizations with more than 30,000 users.
Jack is perhaps best known for his work as the deputy chief technical officer for the city of Washington, DC. While there, he was responsible for managing enhancements to the District's technology infrastructure, including network security. His leadership on the DC.GOV website earned a top-50 rating by SNAP.COM - the only government site to earn such a distinction at that time.
Throughout his career, Jack has worked in management and consulting positions for some of the country's best-known and respected companies, including Honeywell, CoreStates, Sallie Mae, Bankers Trust, Harvey Hubbell (PulseCom),Titan Systems, CashFlex, KnowledgeFlow and Integrion Financial Network.