PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Innovation portal debuts for government

Government Leader home > March 2005 issue

March 2005; Vol. 1 No. 1

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Innovation portal debuts for government

By Richard W. Walker

Looking for examples of creativity in government management? Check out the Government Innovators Network, an online portal launched recently by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

For government senior managers and policymakers, the portal, at www.innovations.harvard. edu, lets users search for innovative programs, practices, and related news and information under a variety of topics and themes.



NEW SCHOOL: The Harvard site offers government officials a forum to discuss innovation topics.

For example, under Organizational Management, users will find initiatives culled from the Ash Institute’s Innovations in American Government Awards program; white papers and other documents; video of pertinent panel discussions and other multimedia presentations; and the latest news relating to the topic.

Visitors to the site also will find a daily digest of top news stories, an inventory of recommended documents and a list of upcoming events.

All material on the site is judiciously vetted, said Gowher Rizvi, director of the Ash Institute. “Our portal is not a Google,” he said. “The material that goes into it is highly selective, and there is a large editorial oversight group that makes sure the material is well-authenticated and of high-quality.”

Supported by the Fannie Mae Foundation, the network also is designed to encourage the sharing of expertise through online chats and meetings, webcasts and discussion boards.

“We are trying to promote a two-way exchange of knowledge,” Rizvi said.

Currently in beta form, the portal will be fully operational in April, he said.