Web 2.0 technologies and services have spread around the world at an amazing pace and are used by millions of people every day. Many public service organizations are also adopting Web 2.0 applications to improve their ability to collaborate and serve citizens more effectively.
Accenture believes that Web 2.0 technologies are finding resonance among governments today because they are, in fact, supportive of a broader evolution in public service: a new relationship with government that is about genuine engagement of people in their own governance.
We also believe that public service executives must balance excitement and caution in their evaluation of the potential of Web 2.0. Governments have an obligation to be good stewards of citizens' tax money. They must implement new technologies responsibly and in a way that does not compromise privacy and security.
What is needed at this point in the evolution of Web 2.0 technologies and applications is an effective way to evaluate potential Web 2.0 investments in the context of a proven framework for effective governance—one that helps assess potential advancements in citizen-centric governance against both costs and the inevitable risks that any new technology poses.
The Accenture Public Service Value Governance Framework is such an offering. Derived from Accenture research and our experience working with governments and agencies around the world, the framework provides an important way for public-service executives to evaluate Web 2.0 technologies in terms of four attributes:
* Generating positive social outcomes.
* Balancing choice and flexibility with fairness and the common good.
* Engaging the public as co-producers of public value.
* Improving accountability and transparency.
