William D. Eggers

What if you could file your taxes or open a business online in mere minutes? It's already possible in Estonia. So why are some US government agencies still running software from the 1960s with no upgrades in sight? When HealthCare.gov went live in October 2013, many called the website a catastrophe. For the U.S. Federal government, however, the launch ultimately proved pivotal: it underscored the necessity of digital excellence in public institutions and inspired hundreds of the tech industry s best and brightest to come to Washington with the singular mission to modernize government. So how do you take a government built on analog, industrial-era frameworks and redesign it as a fully digital state? We must imagine a new kind of government. Imagine prison systems that use digital technology to return nonviolent offenders promptly and securely into society. Imagine a veterans health care system built around delivering a personalized customer experience for every Vet. We now have the digital tools (cloud computing, mobile devices, analytics) and the talent to stage a real transformation. This book provides the handbook to make it happen. William D. Eggers, author of nine books and a leading authority on government reform, knows how we can use tech-savvy teams, strong leadership, and innovative practices to reduce the risks and truly achieve a digitally transformed government."… (más)

William Eggers and Paul MacMillan, are two guys who, like the young protagonist of the film "Tomorrowland" dare to ask "how are we going to fix it?" of every problem in the world... and then catalog the ways in which others and you, too, can actually change the world.

How?

Leveraging connecting things that have no obvious current connection, new technologies, new information agglomeration and a decided willingness to think very, very far outside the box, as exemplified by certain for-profits, non-profits, government programs, entrepreneurs and, most importantly, individuals, no matter what their skills.… (más)

Look to this book more for inspiration than instruction. The authors do provide a useful appendix outlining strategies for growing the solution economy. The primary value of this volume, however, is the description of the many projects and initiatives from around the world that are bringing governments, businesses, and NGOs together to address difficult societal problems. Reading this book will likely spark imaginative ideas for those seeking innovative ways to solve difficult social issues. The authors’ descriptions of what is already being accomplished will also provide readers with hope for the future of the world. Eggers and Macmillan provide a different model for addressing the world’s problems. This book will be of interest to anyone concerned about and involved in creating a better world.… (más)