Re: [Soc Med] Best Practice initial draft - discussion

(Will reply to the draft more in depth later)

Actually while I see your point Owen - Kerry I feel raises a valid 
point. Evaluation, or rather, in the strict technie Social Media sense, 
analytics around useage and engagement level of the technology itself 
(eg: facebook compared to twitter compared to other SM techs), should 
constitute a best practice in some way. Just as web content should 
always be evaluated (accessibility and usability studies being perfect 
examples of, if not best practice, then accepted practice as part of the 
use of the technology that drives it) social media likewise should have 
evaluation/analytics attached to it. In the technological sense, this 
certainly applies as a suitable focus within the scope - no use having 
best practice around use if you're using a fire and forget model in 
using the technology.

Cheers

Chris


On 17/03/2010 11:41 PM, Owen Ambur wrote:
>
> Failure to measure, report, and evaluate the effectiveness with which 
> public resources are being applied constitutes business as usual. 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_evaluation  That is not an 
> outcome to which I would subscribe.
>
> Government is about laws, rules, and policies.  Evaluation of how well 
> it is serving those purposes is of the essence.  While laws, rules, 
> and policies are means to ends and policy-makers (e.g., law makers) 
> should focus on the desired outcomes (e.g., the greatest good for the 
> greatest number of citizens), the appropriate focus for the eGov IG is 
> how the technology can best be applied to support the laws, rules, and 
> policies.
>
> Owen
>
> *From:* public-egov-ig-request@w3.org 
> [mailto:public-egov-ig-request@w3.org] *On Behalf Of *Webb, KerryA
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 16, 2010 5:55 PM
> *To:* Brian Gryth; eGovIG IG
> *Subject:* RE: [Soc Med] Best Practice initial draft - discussion
>
> How about some form of evaluation?
>
> Or is that too 1.0 <g>
>
> --
> Kerry Webb
> Policy Office
> InTACT, ACT Government
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* public-egov-ig-request@w3.org 
> [mailto:public-egov-ig-request@w3.org] *On Behalf Of *Brian Gryth
> *Sent:* Wednesday, 17 March 2010 7:02 AM
> *To:* eGovIG IG
> *Subject:* [Soc Med] Best Practice initial draft - discussion
>
> Hello all,
>
> I have drafted some initial thoughts on what are some of the best 
> practices for use of social media by Government.  I'd like to hear 
> your thoughts.
>
> Here are my questions for the group:
>
> Are there additional best practices that should be on the list?
>
> Do you disagree with any of the items?
>
> What should be clarified or expanded?
>
> I compiled my list from several sources. I will add citation later, 
> but I wanted to get something out for discussion.  Please feel free to 
> edit and revise these initial thoughts on the Soc Med best practices 
> wiki page at http://www.w3.org/egov/wiki/SocMed-bestpractices
>
> The top six practices that I have identified are as follows:
>
> 1) The use of social media is not solely a technical or tool based 
> decision.  It is rather a policy and operational decision that should 
> be based on organizational culture and whether such use advances the 
> mission of the entity.
>
> 2) Before using social media tools a governmental entity must clearly 
> define the overall goal and purpose of such use.  As with any project 
> or initiative, development of a strategic plan is critical to success 
> and smooth operation.
>
> 3) The governmental entity should develop a social media policy and 
> create guidelines for use by the entity and its employees.  The policy 
> and guidelines for employees should cover representation of agency by 
> an employee as well as how personal use can impact the agency.
>
> 4) The governmental entity should identify communities of interest or 
> core constituencies that the entity should actively engage.  
> Engagement should not focus around the entities web presence rather 
> constituencies should be engaged where the constituents have a 
> presence.  However, the entity should be mindful that the entity is a 
> guess of these groups when the entity begins to engage and that online 
> communities will more readily accept the entity on its ability to add 
> value to the community.  It is also important to be mindful that 
> constituent groups are both external and internal.
>
> 5) The governmental entity should assure that the entity is 
> accessible.  Social media should not be the sole channel of 
> communication or engagement by a government.  Instead social media 
> should be one of multiple channels to contact and interact with the 
> agency.  It is also highly useful for the entity to create a directory 
> of the entity's social media accounts and to post this information on 
> the agencies Web site.
>
> 6) A governmental entity needs to embrace a willingness to 
> experiment.  Social media use should be initiated in small pilot 
> projects that maximize potential success and allow for the pilot to 
> "fail fast and fail small."  Each pilot and the overall social media 
> strategy must be allowed to evolve and change (i.e. the social media 
> strategy is in perpetual beta).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian
> twitter.com/briangryth <http://twitter.com/briangryth>
>
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