Comments on: 'Safe hands' Stott fails to inspire – so far http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/ Adventures in government, politics and open source. Mostly WordPress-related. Fri, 11 May 2012 16:17:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: cyberdoyle http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-963 cyberdoyle Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:35:28 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-963 Agree, with most of the above, just wanted to say that it is about time govt stopped listening to suits and maybe Andrew can make contact with grassroots people and feed some common sense and correct information into ministerial thinking. Maybe then govt will see through the propaganda that BT are feeding them and think out of the box. Only then will we get the infrastructure this country needs to forge ahead in the digital economy. Agree, with most of the above, just wanted to say that it is about time govt stopped listening to suits and maybe Andrew can make contact with grassroots people and feed some common sense and correct information into ministerial thinking. Maybe then govt will see through the propaganda that BT are feeding them and think out of the box. Only then will we get the infrastructure this country needs to forge ahead in the digital economy.

]]> By: alex http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-962 alex Sun, 24 May 2009 06:45:53 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-962 It is more of the same old, same old and this time the only hope for UK people is a change of government. Anyone in these positions now must be fearing for their job, as the whole "digital" and "direct gov " agenda has added no public value, or generated private wealth from what I have seen. It could have been built by an SME in a garage for 1/10,000th of the price. Let's hope for a bonfire of the consultants and those who "procure" them It is more of the same old, same old and this time the only hope for UK people is a change of government. Anyone in these positions now must be fearing for their job, as the whole "digital" and "direct gov " agenda has added no public value, or generated private wealth from what I have seen. It could have been built by an SME in a garage for 1/10,000th of the price. Let's hope for a bonfire of the consultants and those who "procure" them

]]> By: Andrew Cooper http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-961 Andrew Cooper Thu, 14 May 2009 09:19:13 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-961 Are there any published performance indicators related to digital engagement? If so, do we know how well central government is performing in relation to them? Are regular independent inspections and audits carried out? I assume so, given this government's enthusiasm for such things. If not, I'm sure Mr Stott's first priority will be to set up a website (incorporating blogs, wikis, Twitter and RSS feeds and, of course, videos) on which data like this can be published so that we can all keep an eye on him and offer helpful suggestions. Proof, puddings etc. Are there any published performance indicators related to digital engagement? If so, do we know how well central government is performing in relation to them? Are regular independent inspections and audits carried out? I assume so, given this government's enthusiasm for such things.

If not, I'm sure Mr Stott's first priority will be to set up a website (incorporating blogs, wikis, Twitter and RSS feeds and, of course, videos) on which data like this can be published so that we can all keep an eye on him and offer helpful suggestions. Proof, puddings etc.

]]> By: Simon http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-960 Simon Wed, 13 May 2009 22:42:34 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-960 Just to repeat my <a href="http://twitter.com/simond/status/1785314544" rel="nofollow">tweet</a> of this afternoon, which seems all the more relevant in the light of subsequent testimonials: <em>'Those closest to Stott seem to think he's ideal for the job. Solution: he needs to bring more of us closer.'</em> Just to repeat my tweet of this afternoon, which seems all the more relevant in the light of subsequent testimonials: 'Those closest to Stott seem to think he's ideal for the job. Solution: he needs to bring more of us closer.'

]]> By: Andrew Stott — the new Director of Digital Engagement - Archive - The Dextrous Web http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-959 Andrew Stott — the new Director of Digital Engagement - Archive - The Dextrous Web Wed, 13 May 2009 21:15:38 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-959 [...] I think Andrew is a good choice. Not who I’d have expected, but good nonetheless. As numerous people have said, he is very qualified, does have a brain the size of a planet, and has lots of [...] [...] I think Andrew is a good choice. Not who I’d have expected, but good nonetheless. As numerous people have said, he is very qualified, does have a brain the size of a planet, and has lots of [...]

]]> By: It’s Andrew Stott! | DavePress http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-958 It’s Andrew Stott! | DavePress Wed, 13 May 2009 19:28:42 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-958 [...] Simon Dickson wonders where the inspiration lies: There’s…general (but for the record, not universal) consensus that Stott will be a ’safe pair of hands’. Of course he meets the criteria of having ‘the authority to be credible with Ministers and senior officials’ and ‘experience of the workings of Government’. But there’s little evidence - and I stress, evidence - of his fit with some of the other supposedly essential criteria. If he has ‘run a public facing web site of significant size’, or ‘innovated in web, beyond web publishing’, the web itself doesn’t have much information about it. [...] [...] Simon Dickson wonders where the inspiration lies: There’s…general (but for the record, not universal) consensus that Stott will be a ’safe pair of hands’. Of course he meets the criteria of having ‘the authority to be credible with Ministers and senior officials’ and ‘experience of the workings of Government’. But there’s little evidence - and I stress, evidence - of his fit with some of the other supposedly essential criteria. If he has ‘run a public facing web site of significant size’, or ‘innovated in web, beyond web publishing’, the web itself doesn’t have much information about it. [...]

]]> By: paul canning http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-957 paul canning Wed, 13 May 2009 17:04:26 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-957 Simon didn't apply, who did? Who were the other candidates? Did no one qualified want to be the government’s digital director? http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/05/did-no-one-qualified-want-to-be.html + what was the point of that 'engagement' re the job description? Simon didn't apply, who did? Who were the other candidates?

Did no one qualified want to be the government’s digital director?
http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/05/did-no-one-qualified-want-to-be.html

+ what was the point of that 'engagement' re the job description?

]]> By: Simon http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-956 Simon Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:37 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-956 Let me be entirely clear. There's no question that Power Of Information represents the right direction to be moving. So, for it to be someone already bought into that process is unquestionably a good thing. And I passionately want the guy to succeed. So, I believe, does everyone else. Let me be entirely clear. There's no question that Power Of Information represents the right direction to be moving. So, for it to be someone already bought into that process is unquestionably a good thing. And I passionately want the guy to succeed. So, I believe, does everyone else.

]]> By: David http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-955 David Wed, 13 May 2009 14:34:54 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-955 Unfortunately a 'safe pair of hands' is the last thing we wanted in the post...I wanted a maverick who would have been naturally subdued by the nature of Whitehall Unfortunately a 'safe pair of hands' is the last thing we wanted in the post...I wanted a maverick who would have been naturally subdued by the nature of Whitehall

]]> By: Alex Butler http://puffbox.com/2009/05/13/reactions-stott-appointment-instant-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-954 Alex Butler Wed, 13 May 2009 14:19:18 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=914#comment-954 I've worked with Andrew Stott for a long time. He is an excellent choice for this job. He has credibility with a very broad cross section of people (inside and out), enormous intellect, never lets a problem stop him finding a solution and years of experience making the machine work for the citizen. A great convenor of people, a listener and genuinely collaborative. He's one of the architects of Transformational Govermement and as a member of the public dealing with government - I'd want him on my side. I'd contend that I have a pretty good idea, from the inside, what is required of this role. I'm lucky enough to deal on a daily basis not just with those that buzz around at the sides of government telling those on the inside how they should be doing things, but with those that work very hard every day to make real change happen. And whilst centuries of process, heritage and culture are going to add to the challenge - most of the people I know are desperate to do it right. As I said at the recent OpenGov conference, I'm afraid that getting on top of web 2.0 tools and knowing the right digital 'name' isn't going to do the job. Digital engagement for us is about understanding the people we serve and building a responsive, participatory civil service where digital tools and techniques are enablers. I want someone in charge of that who will help me make that happen, help give our digital community in government real credibility, authority and support, not words. And knowing Andrew as I do - he's definitely the man for the job. Alex I've worked with Andrew Stott for a long time. He is an excellent choice for this job. He has credibility with a very broad cross section of people (inside and out), enormous intellect, never lets a problem stop him finding a solution and years of experience making the machine work for the citizen. A great convenor of people, a listener and genuinely collaborative. He's one of the architects of Transformational Govermement and as a member of the public dealing with government - I'd want him on my side.
I'd contend that I have a pretty good idea, from the inside, what is required of this role. I'm lucky enough to deal on a daily basis not just with those that buzz around at the sides of government telling those on the inside how they should be doing things, but with those that work very hard every day to make real change happen. And whilst centuries of process, heritage and culture are going to add to the challenge - most of the people I know are desperate to do it right.

As I said at the recent OpenGov conference, I'm afraid that getting on top of web 2.0 tools and knowing the right digital 'name' isn't going to do the job. Digital engagement for us is about understanding the people we serve and building a responsive, participatory civil service where digital tools and techniques are enablers. I want someone in charge of that who will help me make that happen, help give our digital community in government real credibility, authority and support, not words. And knowing Andrew as I do - he's definitely the man for the job.
Alex

]]>