(SA13) Government Transparency via Open Data and Open Source

Title: Government Transparency via Open Data and Open Source

Publication Information: Open Source Business Resource, February 2009
Summary: Executive Director for visiblegovernment.ca Jennifer Bell’s 2009 article focuses on some of the technical advantages and roadblocks of having an open source-based government and how it can further government efficacy. She calls a wide list of pundits and sources to foster the idea that government openness and transparency will, in the long run, be cheaper, more efficient and create few mistakes.

Topic: Should the Obama administration implement a strong policy of openness and transparency?
Category: Citizen 1,  Image 3
What is it? Research article featured on the website Open Source Business Resource.
Author: Jennifer Bell
Location: http://www.osbr.ca/ojs/index.php/osbr/article/view/829/802
Accessed: Feb. 13, 2009

Support:
gartner.com
Barack Obama
visiblegovernment.ca
The Washington Post
techpresident.com
fedspending.org
OMB Watch
Dan Tapscott, author
Maplight.org
Fixmystreet.com
Clay Shirky, author
Cisco
UK’s Power of Information Task Force
Richard Allan, Task Force Chair of The Power of Information Taskforce
David Robinson, Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy

The source list consists of public servants, researchers, authors and groups whose work has been accessed for support of this article by noting advantages of open source governments. The sources also reflect groups or government agencies that are leading the way in the in transparency. The sources are used to reflect forward thinking and lend ideas of how transparency can be used to further the efficacy of government through technology and open source policies.

Audience and Agenda:
The Open Source Business Resource is a online, monthly publication of the Talent First Network, which was originally funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation, and is directed toward Canadian business owners, company executives and employees, directors of open source foundations, leaders of open source projects, open source groups, individuals and organizations that contribute to open source projects, academics and students interested in open source, technology transfer professionals, and government employees who promote wealth creation through innovation. Its sponsors include the Government of Ontario and Carleton University. The website pulls in a mere 0.000031% of global web users. Jennifer Bell wrote the article. Bell is the executive director for visiblegovernment.ca and has degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Saskatchewan, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from McGill University.

Usefulness:
This article is a great tool for getting to know some of the ideas out there that focus on more of the technical sides of open governments. It also shows the movement in Canada for transparency as nearly the same as the one in the United States. The article also helps promote more reading to knowledge-seekers by providing a myriad of links and sources.

Works referenced:
Discussion of the article by the author.