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Social media and IT

Data and informational use derived from these technologies have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses and public officials. The public sector therefore needs to provide or help the private sector to complement provisions of this innovative municipal infrastructure.

Sanwar Azam Sunny
FACEBOOK, Twitter, Youtube and Google Plus! With the advent of social media, cloud computing and a growing technologically savvy population, in both urban and suburban spheres of cities, high speed internet connectivity can consolidate various needs and demands, both of the city and its people. Systems can be designed through smart phone applications, wireless gadgets and the internet to collect and analyse updated data that enhances the usability and efficiency of the available infrastructure. The high-speed fiber is advantageous as system efficiency and business completion of a city greatly hinges on the proper utilisation of city-wide broadband and Wi-Fi connections in an era of openness among novel social media outlets. The big-data based changes taking place across the world is dauntingly huge. Experimental innovation or risk taking may be
institutionally blocked in such settings for various firms or industries as technologically-
driven public sector or capital projects may fail if management does not adequately consider and address risks.
In the short term, online portals on websites, text messages and smart phone applications can be popularised within the high-tech national infrastructure; and in the long term, kiosks could be constructed through the outward growing circles of the city for easy access to municipal services. Digital content and collabo-
ration technologies can be popularised in a cost-effective effort to provide quality services
and experiences in education and healthcare through storage systems for student or patient records and easier content sharing. Also in the long run, city utilities can depend on digital grids to optimise resource consumption in buildings and cutting wastes and losses by incentives to curb consumer behavior towards cleaner technologies. Similarly, traffic and transportation issues can be better managed through smart pricing by tolling higher for congested roads in rush hour to alleviate congestion and pollution while raising funds for other programs.
A central database for employees can also be created in which they can remotely connect
to, with an e-document management system, e-calendars, hours logged and progress, video-conferencing, tele-working and the ability to contribute to journal or log entries on 'how-to’s and the 'know-how's for other personnel involved in similar projects or tasks. Putting more processes online can automate workflow, standardise procedures, reduce process times and complexity, ultimately leading to higher efficiency while incurring lower costs. The database will provide common access to information throughout all the departments leading to better bureaucratic connectivity by facilitating easier data exchange through a single standard.
It will also not be enough to just switch from paper to electronic formats. More access to handheld devices besides regular desktop computers could also be provided. To reduce the number of approvals required, processes inside bureaucracies need to be streamlined and external actors need to be identified who can take part in this process. Given the involvement of the various departments, as well as other jurisdictions, the processes, logistics and procurement can be planned to lead to better transparency. To coordinate the task across these departments, a committee can be established to develop the system and ensure proper implementation of different project planning stages in hopes of best managing system changes by supporting local technological entrepreneurship and economic growth.
If budgetary constraints exist due to limited funds, individual citizens and businesses could themselves design applications and databases on the city's behalf, leading to cheaper, smarter and faster sources of innovation.
Both long term and short term goals would need to be identified as the politically charged short term delivery of results can take precedence over long term strategy. The initiative also needs to be considerably marketed with rhetoric when the city, if not the country, evaluates and makes a public promise to the citizens and stakeholders. Data and informational use derived from these technologies have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses and public officials. The public sector therefore needs to provide or help the private sector to complement provisions of this innovative municipal infrastructure. This way, businesses will be enabled to function effectively while the city authorities can offer appropriate and efficient public services.
The writer is a semifinalist for the Brower Youth Environmental Award and an environmentalist. Email: sanwar@banglagbc.org