What is this technique?
Examples of potential applications include a program where the public could use GPS enabled smart phones or a website to log locations where there are safety hazards or potholes. Such a program could provide more comprehensive input than DOT staff could supply at a much lower cost. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will be testing open source communication on many of its future projects.
Why is it useful?
Online collaboration provides “Deep Transparency.” It expands the notion of transparency to the most fundamental level. Also, the online collaborative world is a meritocracy. In a conventional structure, power is held at the top of the pyramid and a small group of powerful elites makes the decisions. With online collaboration, the best ideas often come from the vast bottom of the pyramid. The best ideas are the ones that stick and move forward.
Online collaboration is intended to complement rather than supplant other means of public involvement. For instance, rather than replace conventional public meetings, an online application could be created to foster a virtual public meeting and discussion forum. These tools should never replace in person public meetings but they could be a cost effective way of opening up the public process to a much larger population.
Who leads?
In-house staff or contractors can lead online collaboration initiatives. Members of the public could also demonstrate themselves as competent moderators and assume some or all of the responsibilities associated with overseeing a particular application. That is the strength of online collaboration, it is a meritocracy and the best performers and best ideas will rise to the top.
Anyone can participate in online collaboration. They can be open to the general public, to a subset of contractors or DOT Staff or stakeholders for a specific project. The strength of online collaboration comes from user driven innovation, so generally, the more open, the better.
What are the costs?
The costs are variable but in many cases very low. Applications could potentially save an agency significantly through efficiencies. In addition, open source application code is freely available. Use and manipulation of the code will require experienced programmers.
What are the challenges?
Online collaboration applications are extremely flexible in cost, staff commitment, and the time it may be used in the planning process. The drawbacks are very limited. If there are problems with an application, having a large number of eyes looking will often generate a sensible solution.
