OpenGovRadio 5/4/10: Evaluating the OpenGov Plans of Federal Agencies

Here's what we'll discuss on this weeks's OpenGovRadio show (Tues., May 4th, 2:00 pm ET):

"Evaluating the OpenGov Plans of Federal Agencies"

Joining me, your host Stephen Buckley, will be Patrice McDermott of OpentheGovernment, a coalition of organizations that recently released its evaluations of the Open Goverment Plans of federal agencies.  Also joining us is Robbie Schingler of NASA's OpenGov team that developed the OpenGov Plan judged "#1" by OpentheGovernment.

The Open Government Initiative began on President Obama's first full day in office when he signed the Presidential Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, followed last December with issuance of the Open Government Directive to federal agencies and, on April 7th, the release of Open Government Plans by every federal agency on how they plan to be more "transparent, participatory, and collaborative."

Last week, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) released its evaluation of whether the federal agencies met the requirements contained in the OMB's Open Government Directive.  OMB took a "check-list" approach (i.e., did an OpenGov Plan meet an OGD requirement, or not).  OpentheGovernment took a "score-card" approach (i.e., how well was an OGD requirement met).

OpenGovRadio's host Stephen Buckley invites you to listen on your computer and, if you wish, add to the discussion with your comments and questions.  There are three options to participate:

A.  Post it, now, as a "Comment" at the end of this posting (scroll down to "green box").  It must be concise, and focused on the Open Government Initiative (or else it will not appear).  Commentors do not need to identify themselves.  They may also choose to ...

B.  Email a comment/question confidentially to your host Stephen Buckley, who fully understands the risk of raising unwelcome questions within the government.  Mr. Buckley can ask the question for you, but if you want to "call in", then he needs your phone number in order to see your incoming call.

C.  Call-in "live" to (917) 388-4210 with your comment/question.  However, first preference will be given to callers who have already provided their question/comment, AND who haved provided a phone number with which to identify their incoming call.


Links for following the discussion:

1.  OpentheGovernment's Evaluation of OpenGov Plans by federal agencies. For the press-release, click here.

2.  OMB's "Initial Assessment of OpenGov Plans" by federal agencies

3.  OMB's "OpenGov Dashboard" for Tracking Agency Compliance
http://www.whitehouse.gov/open/around (then click on an agency's name for its OpenGov Plan)

4.  GovLoop's Chart of the OpenGov Plans

5.  "What Government Plans Are Missing" by Andrea Di Maio, The Gartner Group (4/1/10)

6.  How We Will Measure the Success of Open Government at HHS
http://www.hhs.gov/open/plan/opengovernmentplan/change/measure_1.html

7.  Transparent Leadership by Roger Schwarz (Government Executive magazine, 4/7/10)
Excerpt: "When you are transparent, you create better results and relationships because others understand your thinking. People always are trying to find the meaning of actions, especially leaders' behaviors. When you fail to be transparent, you increase the chance that others will come up with their own theories about your intentions and motives - theories that often will differ from yours. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0410/040710mm.htm

8.  Open Government Directive Workshop (#4 in Series) -- Wednesday, April 28th in D.C. (@USDA)

9.  President's Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government (1/21/09)

10.  White House's Open Government Directive (12/8/09)

11.  Open Government Directive google-group is an "opt-in/opt-out" moderated email-group (137 members) about OGD news & discussion.

12.  NextGov 4/27/10: Agencies Issue Self-Evaluations for Open Government Plans 
       NextGov 5/3/10:  Group Gives Most Open Government Plans Mediocre Marks

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