ICGFM Promotes Knowledge Transfer Among Public Financial Management Experts

Working globally with governments, organizations, and individuals, the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management is dedicated to improving financial management by providing opportunities for professional development and information exchange.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

How will Government 2.0 Transform Government?

We're providing some "food for thought" ahead of the ICGFM panel discussion about Government 2.0 on November 4th. in Washington.

Technology analysts, IDC, recently produced a survey on Open Government and Government 2.0 in the United States. They found a higher adoption rate of Web 2.0 technologies in industry than government. The study analyzed the benefits of different Web 2.0 tools for government.



Many believe that Government 2.0 is much more than social networking and citizen participation. They believe that Government 2.0 will bring direct democracy to government.




Tim O'Reilly believes that government should be seen as a collective action. Government 2.0 enables us to "do it ourselves." It's about government as platform.


What is Web 2.0?

A quick overview of Web 2.0 in anticipation of the upcoming ICGFM DC Forum about Government 2.0 on November 4th. The term "Web.2.0" was coined by Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly media.



Wednesday, October 28, 2009

From Bees to G-Men (and Government 2.0)

Mark Drapeau has had, to say the least, a varied and interesting career. A biological scientist by training, Dr. Drapeau has brought his knowledge of the social behavior of fruit flies and bees to the potentials of social networking within government agencies. Formerly an Associate Research Fellow at the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the National Defense University, Dr. Drapeau is now an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs and a recognized thought leader in innovation and technology in government.

In anticipation of an upcoming panel discussion on Government 2.0 hosted by the International Consortium on Government Financial Management, we asked Dr. Drapeau ten questions:

Do academics approach social networking in a different way than typical users?
That could be answered a number of ways. Academics often only like to socially network with other academics, so their average social networks are probably more narrowly focused than a typical person's. They also probably approach the study of social networks in a more abstract manner than a typical person, who probably wants practical uses out of their network – how do I use my network to get stuff done that's important to me?

How can social networking improve social capital?
Social networking is to some degree linked to "new marketing" in which proactively putting out positive content like helpful blog posts helps drive eyeballs and customers and fans to brands, businesses, and so forth. Contributing to a community of interest and being generous with your ideas grows your social capital within social networks. This has always been true but social networking tools help you spread your word much further than ever before.

Was musician Joe Walsh right: "What were vices are now habits"?

Sure, it used to be that only the hard-core addicts used things like WordPress and Twitter. Now everybody wants some - everyone has the vice. And people who had the vice a year or two ago have now made blogging and tweeting and other things habits. And we are searching for new vices. Mine is Posterous.com.

What from insect social networks applies to human social networks?
Virtually everything.

How do these virtual social networks merge into the physical world?
It's easy to forget that social networking is not only about a digital existence. We all exist in real life and like to interact with people in real life to some degree or another. Few people can completely exist online - maybe game designers, freelance writers, a few other things. Most people need to get business or other work or play done in real life. So, virtual social networks help you accentuate your real life networks. For example, you meet someone at a conference and you don't see them for 9 months – things like Twitter help you ephemerally stay in touch with them just enough such that when you see them again, it's like it's only been 9 days, not 9 months. I've experienced this a lot.

What lessons can we learn from terrorism networks?
Terrorists and similar groups are agile, and seem pretty good at taking advantage of new technologies to spread information internally and externally for PR. This is a boon to small companies, small groups like NGOs, and to government units that need to be more agile or need better “marketing” to the people about what they're up to.

Do we need to inject a “social gene” into government?
Government employees could be more social. Even if they really don't have time (which I often find to be an excuse) social tools are increasingly mobile and people can "socialize" and let people in on their lives from their cars (safely!), homes, vacations and so forth. Just a little sharing means a lot!

Governments strive for standardization - doesn't social networking provide better service to a select group of citizens?
The digital divide is a complex topic but generally the Web is becoming more accessible to more people every day. True that not everyone has an iPhone or a MacBook, but lots of people have cell phones and access to a computer at least some of the day.

What is the implication of mobile technology on Government 2.0?
Potentially huge and definitely to be determined.

Do different generations interact differently in the Web 2.0 world?
Every generation is capable of using Web 2.0 technologies, but different backgrounds yield different expectations and applications. Lots of people are looking at this issue right now, because it has all kinds of implications; for example, government workforce retention.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Mark Drapeau, Government 2.0 Thought Leader joins ICGFM DC Panel


Dr. Mark Drapeau, adjunct faculty member in the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University has agreed to join the Government 2.0 panel discussion at the November 4 DC Forum. Dr. Drapeau is well known as a visionary in the use of social networking in Government.
Mark Drapeau has a unique perspective on the use of social networking from his scientific expertise on social interaction and life sciences combined with government service.

The Government 2.0 panel disccusion is expected to focus on how governments and governmental financial management may transform through the use of social media tools. The DC Forum will discuss internal organizational transformation and the effects of citizen collaboration. The discussion will provide a global perspective on social networking.

Mark Drapeau’s writing has appeared in publications ranging from popular blogs like PBS MediaShift, TechPresident and Mashable, to prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals like Nature, Genetics, and Genome Research, influential military publications such as Defense and Technology Papers and Defense Horizons, and internationally-read newspapers such as the Washington Times and the New York Times. He is currently a regular columnist for O’Reilly Radar (social software and society), Federal Computer Week (emerging technology and government) and Examiner.com and True/Slant (social technology and politics).

The November DC Forum will to chaired by Doug Hadden, the ICGFM Vice President of Communications. You can register at this link.


Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Government 2.0 – The Next Wave of Open Government?

DC Forum
November 4, 2009

Can collaborative tools available to Internet users like blogs, wikis and social networks transform government? Will Government 2.0 fulfill the promise of e-government? Can governments leverage the “wisdom of crowds” for internal government or external citizen collaboration? Should governments publish more and more data? How will this affect traditional back-office systems? What culture changes will be needed for governments to harness Government 2.0?

Join a panel of experts in social networking and governments moderated by Doug Hadden, ICGFM Vice President of Communications. There have been many lessons learned through the ICGFM social networking presence on Blogger, Flickr, Pageflakes, Scribd, Slideshare, Twitter and YouTube.

You can register at this link.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036






sponsored by FreeBalance

Friday, October 9, 2009

Recovery and the Transparency Initiative

ICGFM Sustaining Members, Grant Thornton and the Association of Government Accountants have published a survey of Government CFOs in Canada and the United States.


Recovery and the Transparency Imperative


The survey uncovered eight principles of financial transparency and six levels of "recovery university". Participants ranked the importance of activities necessary to achieve unqualified audits. The survey recommends:
  • Mind the basics of public financial management like budgeting and controls
  • Invest carefully to optimize resources
  • Improve financial reports
  • Increase transparency

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Challenges of Realigning US Foreign Assistance with US Foreign Policy Goals

Denise Fantone from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided a perspective on the American government plan for transitional diplomacy. The F Bureau was created to reform and consolidate State Department and USAID activities and enable performance management.


ICGFM Presentation on State-F Process


Ms. Fantone described lessons learned in culture change in government including the need for workforce management and two-way communications. Documents referenced during the presentation included:

  • Foreign Aid Reform: Comprehensive Strategy, Interagency Coordination & Operational Improvements Would Bolster Current Efforts
    GAO-09-192 (April 17, 2009)
  • Foreign Assistance: State Department Foreign Aid Information Systems Have Improved Change Management Practices but Do Not Follow Risk Management Best Practices
    GAO-09-52R (November 21, 2008)
  • Delegation of Authorities to the Director of Foreign Assistance
    GAO B-316655 (October 29, 2008)

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

“Performance. Résultats. Produits. Comprendre l’Impact sur la Gestion Financière Publique”

Mercredi 2 décembre 1:00PM – Vendredi 4 décembre 2009 12:30PM.
Washington D.C. USA

Renseignements et inscription

La tendance vers une plus grande concentration sur l’impact des dépenses a été lancée depuis plusieurs années mais est encore plus importante durant la crise financière et économique mondiale. Certains pays ont augmenté de façon spectaculaire leurs budgets pour le stimulus, tandis que d’autres pays font face à des réductions sérieuses par suite à de recettes en déclin. Dans les deux cas, les informations sur l’impact d’un changement dans les dépenses peuvent aboutir à une meilleure allocation des ressources.

Les thèmes clés et les domaines d’intérêt qui seront abordés comprennent:
  • Des idées innovantes sur la gestion de la performance
  • Comment les mesures de performance peuvent être utilisées lorsqu’on augmente ou réduit les dépenses publiques
  • Préparation pour les résultats inattendus lorsqu’on met à exécution les régimes de performance
  • Démarrer avec la mise en œuvre des résultats et les cadres de performance
  • Leçons apprises par les pays qui ont entrepris des régimes de résultats et de performance


Ne ratez pas l’occasion de vous joindre aux dirigeants gouvernementaux, aux experts en gestion financière publique, aux donateurs internationaux et aux gestionnaires de programmes à la Conférence d’Hiver 2009 de l’ICGFM. L’ICGFM a été fondé depuis plus de deux décennies dans le but de servir de forum international pour les gestionnaires financiers du secteur public avec emphase sur les pays en voie de développement.

Ou:
Enrique Iglesias Conference Center
Inter-American Development Bank
1330 New York Avenue
Washington D.C. 20577 USA Enregistrement:
Jusqu’au 17 Octobre - $825 ($800 pour les membres de ICGFM)
Du 18 Octobre au 14 Novembre - $950 ($925 pour les membres de l’ICGFM)
Après 20 Novembre - $1,060 ($1,000 pour les membres de l’ICGFM)

Veuillez cliquez ici pour télécharger une lettre officielle de l’ICGFM si vous avez besoin de faire une demande de Visa

“Desempeño. Resultados. Consecuencias: Entendiendo el Impacto de la Gestión de las Finanzas Públicas”

De miércoles, 2 de diciembre 1:00PM hasta viernes, 4 de diciembre del 2009 12:30PM
Washington D.C. USA

Detalles e inscripción

Existe, hace varios años, un foco cada vez más acentuado en el impacto de los gastos, pero esto tiene una importancia especial en medio de la crisis global de las finanzas y la economía. Algunos países están aumentando notablemente sus presupuestos para crear un estímulo y otros están enfrentando severas reducciones debido a la disminución de los ingresos. En ambos casos, informaciones sobre el impacto de un cambio en los gastos podrá conducir a una mejor distribución de los recursos.

Los principales temas y áreas de interés incluyen:
  • Ideas innovadoras sobre la gestión de desempeño
  • Cómo se puede utilizar la evaluación de desempeño al aumentar o disminuir los gastos públicos
  • La preparación para consecuencias imprevistas al implantar regímenes de desempeño
  • Empezando la implantación de marcos de consecuencias y desempeño
  • Las lecciones aprendidas por países que han emprendido regímenes de consecuencias y desempeño

No se pierda la oportunidad de juntarse a líderes gubernamentales, especialistas en la gestión financiera pública, donantes internacionales y gerentes de programas en la Conferencia de Invierno de 2009 del ICGFM. El ICGFM fue fundado hace más de dos décadas para servir de foro internacional para gerentes de las finanzas públicas con énfasis en los países en desarrollo

Dónde:
El Centro de Conferencias Enrique
Iglesias El Banco Interamericano de
Desarrollo
1330 New York Avenue
Washington D.C. 20577 USA Inscripción:
Hasta el 15 de octubre – US$ 860 (US$ 800 para los miembros de ICGFM)
Del 16 de octubre al 20 de noviembre – US$ 960 (US$ 900 para los miembros de ICGFM)
Después 20 de noviembre - US$1,060 (US$1,000 para los miembros de ICGFM)

Por favor haga clic aqui para obtener una carta oficial de ICGFM en caso que necesite peticionar una Visa

2009 ICGFM Winter Conference

Performance. Results. Outcome.
Understanding Impact in Management Public Finance

Details and Registration

December 2-4, 2009. Washington D.C. USA

The movement to a greater focus on impact of spending has been underway for several years but is even more important during the global financial and economic crisis. Some countries are dramatically increasing budgets for stimulus and others are facing severe reductions due to depressed revenues. In both cases, information on the impact of a change in spending can result in better allocation of resources.

Key themes and areas of interest that will be addressed include:
  • Innovative ideas on performance management
  • How performance measures can be used when increasing or decreasing public spending
  • Preparing for unexpected outcomes when implementing performance regimes
  • Getting started in the implementation of outcome and performance frameworks
  • Lessons learned by countries who have undertaken outcome and performance regimes

Don’t miss the opportunity to join government leaders, public financial management experts, international donors and program managers at the 2009 ICGFM Winter Conference. ICGFM was established over two decades ago to serve as an international forum for public sector financial managers with an emphasis on developing countries.

Where:
Enrique Iglesias Conference Center
Inter-American Development Bank
1330 New York Avenue
Washington D.C. 20577 USA Registration:
Through October 15 - $860 ($800 for ICGFM Members)
October 16-November 20 - $960 ($900 for ICGFM Members)
After November 20 - $1,060 ($1,000 for ICGFM Members)

Please click here to obtain an official letter from ICGFM if you need to apply for a Visa.

ICGFM is on Pageflakes


ICGFM has created a "pagecast" at http://www.pageflakes.com/ to provide a central source of information on public financial management. We've added blogs from our members and the PFM community. This pagecast is available to anyone.