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.