Steal This Idea tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008-06-24:/hunter//3 2008-08-14T17:42:00Z By Hunter: A subversively helpful chronicle of good practices purloined from public agencies and others from coast to coast. Movable Type Open Source 4.12 Beauty in the Eye of the (Millenial) Beholder tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.133 2008-08-14T17:21:13Z 2008-08-14T17:42:00Z Hunter Mashable considers the most beautiful social networks wash over the audience, followed by a question - do any of your sites looks like any of these?

  1. Virb
  2. Trig
  3. PureVolume
  4. my9rules
  5. Pownce
  6. Flickr
  7. Threadless
  8. shelfari
  9. Beautiful Society
  10. Humble Voice
Do they?  See for yourself.  And consider that design does matter if public agencies are to serve (and be seen as relevant) by the demographic cohort that is native to the net.

(And thanks to Brett Taylor from Dallas County for prompting me to call out the Top 10 here.  As far as I know, Brett is no relation to my alter ego.)


]]> Hello, My Name is Hunter tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.88 2008-06-28T04:24:02Z 2008-06-28T03:37:22Z Hunter Hunter

That's Hunter, as in both verb and noun.  As a verb, I sneak around looking for the next great idea to steal.  As a noun, I am named for the late Hunter S. Thompson, the father of all things Gonzo, under which it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Go ahead, steal an idea... or as much loot as you and your unindicted co-conspirators can carry.

Yeah, all you can carry, nugget by nugget.

- Hunt

]]> Trading Cubicles for Jelly! tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.108 2008-05-20T13:47:09Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z Hunter

Imagine a new hire going missing in action.  You approved a telework agreement with her.  You thought shes was going to work from home.  But she ends up with a group of self selected freelancers who work alone, together.  (This video was produced by American Public Media's Marketplace and provides another clue to the future of work.)

]]> The Presentation: As seen in Kentucky, New Jersey, California, Florida and Tennessee tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.107 2008-05-18T02:27:39Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z Since its debut on April 22, the presentation has change a little but all the best parts are in this PDF file.... Hunter STI Presentation Title Slide

Since its debut on April 22, the presentation has change a little but all the best parts are in this PDF file.

]]> Hunter on "Nuggets" tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.106 2008-05-18T01:31:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z Hunter Nugget Box

I have been picking up stuff all my life,  some of it was even legal.  I'm not really a conference kinda guy myself bit it seems to me that you go to conferences to pick stuff up -- maybe a little something overheard in the hall, or something smart somebody said.  Anyway, those are "nuggets" -- collect enough of them and all of a sudden it is a good day.  I've collected a bunch for you ... look for the little nugget boxes all around my blog ... feel free to add more by using the Comments link at the bottom of this or any other post.

]]> Online Self Service tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.105 2008-05-18T01:30:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? What a finished portal should be and do: Approachable, Findable (Search) and Actionable (Transactions) Clean and crisp design that helps users confront complexity that lays behind it Integrates a wide universe of providers (Central supply and vast network of interdependent stores)... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

What a finished portal should be and do:

  • Approachable, Findable (Search) and Actionable (Transactions)
  • Clean and crisp design that helps users confront complexity that lays behind it
  • Integrates a wide universe of providers (Central supply and vast network of interdependent stores)
]]> Digital Democracy tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.104 2008-05-18T01:29:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Listening as an act of governing:

  • Dare to open all channels to listen.
  • Provide privacy notice at point of collection.
  • Make sure the basics work.  If they don’t, fix them.
  • If they do, take a fresh look at search, look and feel, media, folksonomies and social.
  • Rethink portal as the non exclusive front door to the information, applications and transactions behind it.
  • Give tools and templates away in a subversively helpful way.
  • Use maps as the ultimate WYSIWYG interface – extending value of your GIS and making mash-ups routine.
  • Solve intractable problems (land reform and use, regulation) through geospatially aware applications that are available to everybody, all the time.
]]> Citizen Talkback tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.103 2008-05-18T01:28:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? Opening up communication: Make connections (Call centers and web draw from common data) Make connections (211, 311, 411, 511, 811, 911 more than the sum of the parts) When it becomes mission critical, it better be recoverable. In developing call centers, get FTEs rather than... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Opening up communication:

  • Make connections (Call centers and web draw from common data)
  • Make connections (211, 311, 411, 511, 811, 911 more than the sum of the parts)
  • When it becomes mission critical, it better be recoverable. In developing call centers, get FTEs rather than existing employees because customer service experience doesn’t always come naturally ….
]]> The Dashboard: From "Toy" to Tool tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.102 2008-05-18T01:27:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? Toward data-driven decisions: Open expert systems to new universe of users. See to the edges of your organization and extend value of formerly discrete data by dashboarding it for decision makers, case managers and project teams. Remember this is not a toy: The dashboard is... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Toward data-driven decisions:

  • Open expert systems to new universe of users.
  • See to the edges of your organization and extend value of formerly discrete data by dashboarding it for decision makers, case managers and project teams.
  • Remember this is not a toy: The dashboard is the “same page” you’ve been waiting for.
  • Share common directories for the mundane (address changes) to the sublime (who knows how to do what?)
]]> IT Operating Disciplines tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.101 2008-05-18T01:26:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? Alphabet Soup: Choose Your Recipe – then make some soup. Face up to the fact it gets harder in a networked world and a federated government Build on 40 years of big iron discipline Choose your religion (EA, SOA, ITIL, COBIT, ISO, PMOs) Integrate into... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Alphabet Soup: Choose Your Recipe – then make some soup.

  • Face up to the fact it gets harder in a networked world and a federated government
  • Build on 40 years of big iron discipline
  • Choose your religion (EA, SOA, ITIL, COBIT, ISO, PMOs)
  • Integrate into consolidation efforts
]]> Assurance tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.100 2008-05-18T01:25:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? The Thing about Information Security:* Find a Friend; Don’t Go It Alone* Use Time Zones to Advantage... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

The Thing about Information Security:
* Find a Friend; Don’t Go It Alone
* Use Time Zones to Advantage

]]> Green is the New Green tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.99 2008-05-18T01:24:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? A Green Hue from Consolidation and Virtualization Commonwealth of Virginia Replaced 60,000 PCs and laptops with Energy Star-rated machines Energy consumption reduced by 32 percent Hard dollar savings estimated at $12 million each year State of New York DMV 277 servers have been virtualized across... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

A Green Hue from Consolidation and Virtualization

Commonwealth of Virginia

  • Replaced 60,000 PCs and laptops with Energy Star-rated machines
  • Energy consumption reduced by 32 percent
  • Hard dollar savings estimated at $12 million each year

State of New York DMV

  • 277 servers have been virtualized across 11 physical machines
  • Realized more than 25:1 savings in server acquisition, power, AC, UPS, floor space, security, support and maintenance costs

City of New York

  • Virtualization has raised server utilization rates from 10% to 60%
  • Capacity increased by the equivalent of 400 servers
  • Avoided the need for implementing an additional 350 servers
  • Cost avoidance estimated at $7.9 Million

For an overview of a few steps in the right direction in IT sustainability, see the Center for Digital Government's green paper, Simply Green.

]]> On NASCIO/ Gartner IT Priorities for 2008 tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.98 2008-05-18T01:24:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? The Thing about Technological Advances: Your next priority may come out of nowhere! Legacy still heart of the matter but there are new renewal options Voluntary, Non-Solicited, Outside Developers and Actors Help and inspiration comes from the ‘darndest’ places... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

The Thing about Technological Advances:

  • Your next priority may come out of nowhere!
  • Legacy still heart of the matter but there are new renewal options
  • Voluntary, Non-Solicited, Outside Developers and Actors
  • Help and inspiration comes from the ‘darndest’ places
]]> Mobility tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.97 2008-05-18T01:23:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? Serving an increasingly Transient Society It is not about place as much as people. Design Matters You can learn a little something at Hard Rock Café: “Serve All.”... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Serving an increasingly Transient Society

  • It is not about place as much as people.
  • Design Matters
  • You can learn a little something at Hard Rock Café: “Serve All.”
]]> Design Matters tag:www.govtechblogs.com,2008:/hunter//3.96 2008-05-18T01:22:00Z 2008-06-26T19:03:27Z What have we learned? Just who is your audience? You can learn a little something at Hard Rock Café: “Serve All.”... Hunter Nugget Box


What have we learned?

Just who is your audience?

  • You can learn a little something at Hard Rock Café: “Serve All.”
]]>