[dgOnline] - Invitation to discuss the "digital government community"

[dgonline at mailman.isi.edu]

Dear Colleagues,

A growing number of scholars and government professionals are  
involved in
the phenomenon we call electronic or digital government. At the recent
digital government research conference in Atlanta (dg.o2005), a large  
group
began a discussion about the prospects for a sustainable "community" of
people who are interested in discovering and applying new knowledge  
about
digital government. At some point in the future, this community might  
launch
a formal organization, but first we want to have a broad and open  
discussion
about the desirability and dimensions of a "digital government  
community."

This discussion will take place on line within the next six weeks.  
Via an
electronic board we will facilitate a threaded discussion about such  
topics
as purpose, values, the needs of government, the role of research,  
the link
between research and practice, and others. At the end of the six  
weeks, the
moderators will summarize the discussions and conduct a short survey  
leading
to proposed mission statements for the community to consider that might
serve as a starting point for a more formal organization. We plan to
complete all of this by August.

If you are involved in electronic or digital government as a  
practitioner,
scholar, educator, or analyst in any part of the world, we hope you will
take part in this discussion.  Please visit this URL to register for and
participate in the discussion

http://faculty.washington.edu/jscholl/mission_welcome.html


Sincerely,

Sharon Dawes, Center for Technology in Government, University at Albany
Enrico Nardelli, NESTOR, University of Roma "Tor Vergata"
Jochen Scholl, The Information School, University of Washington

______________________________
Mack Reed, communications manager
Digital Government Research Center
USC Information Sciences Institute
mack at isi.edu | http://www.diggov.org