THE FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT 2030

WHAT IF THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT IN 2030 WOULD BE MANAGED ‘BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE’?

Nowadays, democracy is in crisis. The whole world is struggling with ups and downs of its system’s values. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index shows that in 2017 just 19 countries in the world are classified as ‘full democracies.’ Trust in elected representatives is also regularly decreasing. To keep democracy alive and build deepen relationships between citizens and government, for example, Paris set up the program called ‘Madame Major I have an idea.’ It is a participatory budgeting scheme which allocates 500 million euro to projects proposed by citizens. Brazil, for instance, is testing the new tool which enables citizens to advise and draft legislation.

ME - IN THIS CONTEXT.

In last days I took part in design project in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Directorate General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) and the local Government of Camden (London). In response to these changes, we had been trying to understand relationships among citizens, governments, and businesses, cause they might provide new forms of democracy and governance. Through the constructive reflection on current government’s systems, simultaneously we were enabled to stimulate the debate about the possible, plausible and desirable future models of open democracy. Primarily I was curious about speculating requirements for citizens quality and legitimacy of decision making processes to explore and open the discussion how it might work in the future.

Furthermore, as a service design student, I aimed my work to consider how might we use service design methodology to stimulate people’s imaginaries and open discussion about a new perspective on devolution processes. Especially about moving the power and responsibility from leading organizations to the citizen's level rather than from a central to local government.

Before going through creation stage, I begin with an attempt to describe the complex issues surrounding the meaning of open democracy to contextualize provocation in in-depth context.

WHAT DOES OPEN DEMOCRACY MEANS FOR ME?

It is the belief in freedom equality between people which power is held directly by themselves without any restrictions on those who are allowed to participate. Primarily, with full respect for people’s independence and expression of thoughts and feelings.

FARMING THE DESIGN PROCESS - FROM INSIGHTS TO FORESIGHT

Subsequently, our teamwork was based on four stages named provocation - experimentation - reflection - iteration.

LET’S START!

So, right now, please imagine that we rapidly moved to the future. You are living in times when the social gap has been increased. The more impoverished majority started to engage communities for co-creating public services due to top-up one's limitations and low-quality statements. Digital technology helps the grassroots initiatives to reach out widely. On the other hand, the power of government is limited, and the state is financially weak. Welcome to 2030.

PROVOCATION _1

E- GOVERNMENT - Open Camden Platform 2030

What is it and how it works?

It is an open platform for every citizen, who wants to be a part of the decision making in the borough. The platform uses hyper-reality technology to increase engagement civil participation and understanding of changes in borough life itself in real time.

There are main stakeholders in the system: Citizens, Businesses, and Civil Society Organizations. They are working together to create new or improve existing public services. Any citizen is allowed to propose ideas, get and give suggestions, open discussion and of course approval or disapproval other’s ideas. If the process begins successfully it is necessary to form communities to deliver the changes and emerge person who will be responsible for monitor the delivering part. To facilitate and coordinate these interactions, there are two significant players in this process: Councilors and AI - the technology operated, maintained and monitored by the councilors.

Keeping the balance of Ai.

THE PROCESS:

1. IDEA (suggestion)

2. DISCUSSION (interaction)

3. BUILDING A COMMUNITY

4. AI APPROVAL

5. FUNDING

6. DEFINING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO DELIVER

7. BUILD

8. CHECK AND MEASURE (feedback)

Here, was the primary challenge. Firstly, how to present to the customer intangible service flow in more physical and engaging way. Secondly how to build a clear vision of the medium of technology which we want to use for the platform.

During the first internal workshops (with the classmates and tutors), we used role-play as a tool to stimulate a discussion about Open Camden decision-making process from different stakeholders perspectives. We presented the case study as an example to explain a possible situation which could happen in the borough when one of Camden’s citizen wants to propose a new idea. In few words… It didn’t work. We used an inappropriate tool according to the participant's background. It was impossible to gather insightful feedback (for example) what councilors would say or decide if my colleague does not have any experience in the politics. To develop the way of communication and interaction with stakeholders we started visualizing platform flow. Then, we went more deeply with the stimulation of the service environment. Of course, in that case, it was not possible to build the service experience using high technology (the concept assumes it). By using storytelling presented by a personal assistant - Jessica, we explained what the main features and functions are and how the platform works. We kept it simple but sensational and playful which strengthened participants understanding of the idea. Thanks to that! We got valuable feedback. Furthermore, we had a chance to find out more insights and check out our assumptions.

“One of the main features of service design thinking is that this approach is not about avoiding mistakes, but rather about exploring as many as possible mistakes.” - Stickdorn, M., Schneider, J.

Sketches of hyper-reality platform and its flow.

First prototype - simulating the platform concept in as a ‘hyper-reality’ environment.

“ Happppppy Birthday again ...you are now 18. And besides all the crazy parties and legal responsibilities that come with it you will also become part of the Camden Open Government.

I am Jessica, your personal assistant will introduce you to Open Camden, a platform that allows all citizens to govern our borough together. You have in your hands a tool to help Camden become a even better place to live, work and endeavor.

Please tell me when you are ready and we should start. “

Workshops with the stakeholders.

Feedback which we received mostly concerned doubts about budgeting and allocation methodology.

“How is the budget being prioritized in certain necessary actions?”

“What is the timeline of the budget allocation or re-allocation?”

Workshop’s feedback.

Other questions were about a role of AI and who is responsible for the decision making? In that case, we were sure about that AI is only there to suggest options and recommends trends. Citizens and councilors are the only ones who can make a decision. It was just a proof that we did not clarify few essential aspects during the presentation.

In the end, we discussed user’s interaction with the system. How can we motivate people to use the platform? Moreover, how we want to present all the features and the full range of responsibility to young people?

DOT.

After that, we had to make few steps back. It was essential to understand some basics. We made ‘quick’ desk research about budget allocation in local authorities (it aroused the most considerable interest among the recipients). By then, it was difficult to keep balance between understanding past and/or present and being foresighted in the future. Of course, our tutor “SET IT TO THE FUTURE ! WHAT IF not HOW MIGHT” had been in my mind for the whole design process.

WHAT’S NEXT ?

• Develop a process how budgeting works today (budget cycles, locked budget, etc.)

• Apply a concept of "open budgeting" (evidence-based and outcome-oriented) into our model and designing a new process how it is going to work in 2030.

PROVOCATION _2

OPEN BUDGET ALLOCATION

We proposed four-step Budget Allocation Plan:

1. COLLABORATIVE GOVERNMENT PLAN:

Every year, citizens will have an opportunity to work collaboratively on borough's objectives for next years. During the planning period, stakeholders are enabled to ‘allocate money‘ in different budget areas like education, public spaces and specific Camden’s objectives (like 'everyone should have a place they call home'). After this period, the budget will be locked in the specific goals and long-term projects. All the time, during this, circulate process the Ai will monitor the process and recommend budget allocations based on last results outcomes.

2. INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:

There will always be a part not locked budget which can be used for projects suggested by citizens. Before implementation idea has to fulfill three filters:

• Outcome test. The system (AI) will check objectives contribution related to evidence and outcome-based assumptions.

• Citizen test. Here is a time for debating, voting and deciding about implementation. Based on citizens personal profile the AI will notify specialists who can adequately support, monitor and deliver the idea.

• Funding. There are few options for financial support of the idea:

• Public budget - the system (Ai) will give proposition about budget re-allocation. In the end, citizens are going to vote and decide if the resources should be re-distributed.

• partnership with organizations,

• citizen crowdfunding.

3. REAL TIME EVALUATION

The AI will be always evaluating each project result in real-time to make the system work most effectively.

4. PREDICTIVE BUDGET ALLOCATION

Is it a system based on the real-time evaluation and a machine learning algorithm. Additionally, it can identify values of well or loosy-invested money and measure outcomes incomprehension to other projects which had the same goals.

C’MON IT IS NOT ABOUT BUDGET !

After comprehensive discussion, analysis and propositions and speculations “WHAT IF”? We realized it is not just about money! It is more about service innovation delivering - budget it is just a part of it. I believe Jessica will explain you everything better than I.

PROVOCATION_3

OUTCOME BASED SERVICE INNOVATION PLATFORM

HOW DOES IT WORK?

"Welcome to Collaborative Service Innovation Platform! We have already met before, but I will introduce myself again. I am Jessica, your assistant. Our system was updated, so right now, so I am gonna to show you new platform's features and options and I will explain to you how decisions are made.

Now you are the part of the Camden Council. It means in the same way you have real influence on what is happening in your borough, and you are directly responsible for of decisions and projects made by the Council.

You as a part of the society, Businesses, and Civil Society Organizations are the main stakeholders who are creating and improving public services together. Please, remember that any citizen can propose ideas, get suggestions, approve and discuss other’s ideas and deliver the changes.

Don’t forget about Ai - machine learning facilitates participation, collects and integrates big data, makes decisions more outcome-based and evaluates its results in real-time. It is perfect balance - machine regulates humans, and the humans regulate the machine. However, the most important thing is that always, in the end, the system can’t make decisions alone. People have to decide if the recommendations should be applied.

Stakeholders.

System timeline

SYSTEM FLOW STEP BY STEP:

1. Flagging - the Ai will notify which services which are not working well or need some improvements.

2. Proposition during proposal period.

3. Outcome filter - system has to check if the idea is to enable to contribute to the objectives and if it outcome-based related. If not citizens have to review it.

4. Citizen filter - time for voting and discussing the idea. Then Ai will recommend specialists and citizens who most effectively can support the idea delivering.

5. Scoping / Team / Funding.

6. The system will suggest resources and timeline need to achieve the goals.

7. In that stage communities and groups of specialists will be formed.

8. The idea proposer will be responsible for looking for funding which can come from public budget, citizen crowdfunding or partnership with organizations.

9. Delivering - The specific project steward will be assigned to providing the project.

10. Evaluating (Real-time service impact measuring). If project it is not performing, the Ai will flag it.

Generally, that’s how it works! Thanks for participating in an introduction to the platform. Now, Martyna will tell you more how they prototyped me. Bye Bye and see you soon!

LOG OFF !

After having the concept, I experienced a revelation. Generally, there was one milestone in my design career. Learning by doing approach made me aware of two primary objectives of prototyping. Sounds like obvious but it wasn’t for me. The first thing which I discovered was a crucial value of rapid prototyping. By doing simple sketches, visualizations, paper models as quickly as possible, we avoided many mistakes in the later stages. On the other hand, I observed it is just super fun for me, and I realized it is nothing to lose. So, thinking that the idea it is not perfect enough to present should never come back to my mind again. Martyna remember! You will postpone it for sure you will fail.

The second discovery was great importance and difficulty of presenting our service idea to the audience. I’ve learned that it is necessary to start with the question of who is going to speak, what kind of technology you can use. Our challenge was to represent our idea as an artifact which will be sent and then presented at the exhibition in Brussel.

We started with 3d storyboard explaining our service process. Only a clear narration was needed. We wrote down a case study about Carlos which illustrates his interaction with the Service Innovation System by proposing a new idea about the future library. Generally speaking, medium of presenting it - nothing special. It is about the future so we tried to figure out how can we present service from 2030 using low tech-technics.

3d storyboard.

To make it more playful we used the Bare Conductive touch board to create more engaging interaction by using tactile and sound elements.

We were also thinking about the different types of game which explains how the process of idea proposition process work. But we realized that it would be too complicated to describe the game rules and engage people to play together in an exhibition.

Then we designed a book! As a symbol of Carlos idea about the future library. Honestly, my heart was broken when I heard that we have to change a concept of our artefact [joke :)].

Instead of having 20 pages of guide how the platform works and 10 minutes of audio we had to present our idea one graph. Again and again, we created a lot of new sketches and proposition how it can work and after this long journey guess what? We finished with short animation movie which explains the process of idea proposition step by step. If it is gonna work? We will check on Monday!

To make sense to experimentations and close the whole story of this design process I would like to present five trends according to future of the devolution and relationships between national and local governments and also its citizens.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Nowadays, we are surrounded by high technologies systems and devices which play a critical role in our lives. Looking at the power of digital technology in different fields we can imagine its growing strength in the future. We might assume that digital tools could ensure easy access to participation in the decision-making process and engage citizens to be a part ‘active’ society at near zero-marginal costs. Additionally, it will increase bottom-up trust by keeping data open and transparent.

COLLABORATIVE AND OPEN GOVERNMENT

A boundary between politicians and citizens will be decreasing. Government and citizens will work collaboratively during the whole process of service and changes delivery. Additionally, we can imagine that citizens have to open access to the governing documents to provide a useful public oversight, transparency, and accountability. In response to government management approach, social activities index will grow.

GOVERNMENT AS A PLATFORM

For ages, we have been brought up in traditional means of a government representative. By using high technology, the government will be able to provide direct access to its ‘world’ as an online platform. This kind of medium will allow a broader group of a citizen be a part of decision and policy-making, planning and budgeting making processes more inclusively.

GLOCAL

“Think locally, act globally!”. It might be some paradox. Everyone will be connected with everything, anytime and everywhere. Furthermore, everything will be work as a hyperconnectivity ecosystem. In the other side of the coin, we might imagine that local authorities will be more responsible for their own economic sustainability. They will work more independently, because of weakening relationship between them and national governments and upper organizations. The main reason for that will be budget cuts from federal government. Thus, we might call this relationship ‘protocooperation’ when two organisms just interact with each for having benefits, but they do not have to.

DATA VISUALIZATION

The government will provide a new way of data presenting. By making them more understandable and friendly to users might increase citizens interest in political life. Delineate between digitality and physicality of data presentation will disappear. We can imagine the extended experience of data receiving by using all of the human senses which will allow showing data in real-time, transparently and in an aesthetic way.

CONCLUSION

One of the most significant learnings from this design challenge was to understand the value of encouraging people to reflections about how can we make things different. Additionally, I realized that living in the in the world of changes, a variety of beliefs and doubts, ideologies and different values, our aim as service designers are to open discussions to propose alternatives in these different contexts. Sometimes we have to make a provocation, offer a new perspective of the futures and facilitate this conversation.

“ NOT A SOLUTION, NOT A ‘BETTER WAY,’ JUST ANOTHER WAY. ”

Dunne, A. and Raby, F.

Ending with the five trends reflected me on one basic at the same time the most crucial aspect of the human life. All of us want to be part of something. If we have a feeling that we are the part of the ecosystem and we have a real influence on things which are happening around us we feel responsible for, and we care about it. Moreover, for thousands of year, it has not changed.

‘Devolution’ can be a spark for creating a new space for discussion and building a new, trustful and open relationship between governments and citizens. We, as designers (and also as citizens), have to propose a new way of facilitating this conversation. I always say that everything has to be done for people, with people, and in a human way and I hope so ‘human’ will always be in the first place in every discussion.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dunne, A. and Raby, F. (2014) Speculative Everything. Design fiction, and social dreaming. England: MIT Press.

Stickdorn, M., Schneider, J. (2014) This is Service Design Thinking.: Basics - Tools - Cases. 01 edition. Amsterdam: Bis Publishers.

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