In 1999, while reflecting on work we'd done for the US Environmental Protection Agency, some colleagues and I had an idea for a “project coordination web page” where project documents, a schedule, and staff contacts could easily be listed. Having worked with teams involving government workers plus private sector contractors, I thought this idea offered huge opportunity for efficiency increases, simply by creating a shared space which different members of the same team could all access easily.

We developed the new tool quickly, and it worked well for those we introduced it to. In fact, refinements and enhancements led in part to Forum One's development of the popular ProjectSpaces online project coordination tool, which anyone can start using today with the click of a button.

But in this summer of 2008, nine years later, I am reminded that much of the huge potential for efficiency gains in public sector work remains untapped. I've participated recently in three unrelated meetings that hit me over the head with this point – one in New York with program planners from agencies like UNICEF and the World Health Organization; one in Peru with a group of water management entrepreneurs; and one in California's Sierra Nevada mountains where small town residents make local land-use planning decisions. About half-way through each meeting, someone suggested that the group use internet tools to coordinate the information flow and planning. And, after a quick round of affirmations and nodding of heads, each group then went back to the business at hand, and the idea was never mentioned again.

At least there is general awareness of the potential for these efficiencies now. But there are also many perceptions (and even some realities!) which often defeat the idea. Every new tool requires time to learn. People are busy, and overwhelmed with glitzy web ideas. And frankly, in the eyes of many novice users, these web systems appear too complicated. Which is a conundrum, because as new people do start using such systems, they tend to want more complex additional features and functions added quickly, yet those same complexities scared them away initially.

Some tools are now truly easy enough to adopt to make this crowd happy, I believe, but a challenge remains in how to bring this idea to life at the moment it arises, pretty consistently these days, in these kinds of multi-agency program and policy meetings.

We're excited to see fascinating commentary and photos rolling in on the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)'s new blog. These real-world, real-time testimonials connect global audiences to very on-the-ground experiences in rural Africa.















We worked with AWF to plan this effort, so it is particularly useful to learn lessons along the way. After launching this WordPress blog in April, AWF dispatched staffer Paul Thomson, with laptop and Blackberry in hand, to tackle the technology, staffing, and storytelling challenges of reporting live from the field rather than from the home office.

Eight weeks later, Paul has sent us the following insights:

“I had no idea people would be so interested in my stories! It is been really encouraging. ExOfficio clothing company has even taken notice, and we're exploring ways to possibly work together.”

“Technology challenges inhibit the ability to post stories while they're still fresh in mind. For example, right now I'm in a really cool Lion research camp in Samburu District, Kenya. Would love to post but, in fact, I'm going to hike up a rocky hill just to see if I can get Blackberry connection to send this email.”

“We didn't think AWF field staff would like it, but many of them now want to start blogging more!”

“Uploading photos to WordPress is difficult when the remote internet connection is slow and cuts off frequently.”

And, this work also highlights an important challenge many of us face, how to make sure authentic staff blogging (genuine voices from the front lines!) stay in balance with the more formal communications and reporting responsibilities our organizations face. AWF seems to be doing a great job so far.

Good luck Paul and AWF team! We'll be watching.