Conference Theme Building Trust Through Transformational Government What is trust in government? It is the confidence and respect for government that it will serve the citizens in a way that meets their specific needs. To achieve the citizen's trust, there are certain key components - Is government transparent, accountable, and seamless to the citizens? Building trust requires that the government live up to the promises it makes. This can be in terms of the types of services offered or the quality or quantity of the service. Citizens want to be protected? It is the government's responsibility to protect their safety, their private information, and their privacy. This is true during their day-to-day lives as well as during national disasters. Citizens want to know that their money is being spent wisely. Does the government adequately demonstrate achieving results and communicate those results to the public? Citizens are better served when government, industry, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions are working together cohesively. Technology can make government processes more accessible by expanding citizen participation in public policy decision-making giving citizens a broader influence in policy outcomes. This increases the potential for smarter policies, transparency, accountability, and keeps the government closer to the consent of the governed. This direct relationship between individuals and their representatives can result in improved public trust. In this conference, officials from up to 30 nations will share their experiences, debate the issue of whether it is important for the public to trust government. In addition, discussions on how the government can protect the citizen's privacy while providing expanded government services, how to ensure that the public is aware of the services provided electronically by government, including the use of latest types of social networking media, and what is the appropriate balance between using government employees and outsourcing to the private sector. And finally, what are the necessary components of a successful program that provides integrated electronic services to the public. ICA will initiate discussions on defining those factors important to being e-ready. As governments are transforming government services, what is the result? How do these services increase the citizen's trust in government? A panel of ICA thought leaders in the area will lead some discussions about the future of a transformational government.
