Digital Counties: A Little Bit of Friendly Competition + A Lot of Collaboration = Wins For All!

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the awards ceremony for the 14th Annual Digital Counties survey.

The survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACO), "identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that save tax dollars through newfound efficiencies; boost transparency, cybersecurity and engagement; or innovate through unique and exciting projects."

Wake County did very well this year in the process. In fact, the Vice-Chair of our Board of Commissioners and I were able to receive our first-time, first place recognition in the largest population category. Being in the spotlight for a few minutes was very nice, but it is only a small part of the value of the survey.

The Center for Digital Government ranks counties based on their long-form responses to a series of questions that get to the heart of how we as counties use technology and innovation to engage with and provide better services for our constituents. The questions evolve over time to keep pace with the latest trends and hot topics in government technology.

But CDG takes a collective and valuable further step by profiling the top counties in each population category. They examine and highlight the trends and facets of strategy and operations that the judges find intriguing and valuable. 

Perhaps one of the most valuable assets that we have in public service is our ability to share and learn from each other. Since we are generally not in competition with one another, it is very easy for us to collaborate and learn from each other's best practices and pain points. So, it is a natural fit for us to always be learners and teachers to each other.

I often see noteworthy items in the articles that follow the survey results. I find myself making new connections with great peers or rekindling professional relationships, all the while learning about the excellent work that is happening in other counties (big and small) across the country that could be applied here in Wake. 

How We All Win

If you are a government innovator, I would encourage you to check out the list and the summary article. If you see something interesting, reach out and find someone in that organization who's willing to speak on the topic. My experience has been that it isn't too difficult to get people to talk about the stuff that led them to winning awards! : ) 

If you are already on the list, be prepared and willing to respond to peers who are looking to you as a role model. If you want to climb on to the list, reach out, make contact with those who are and listen to their counsel (oh, and make sure to complete the survey in the spring). And finally, be prepared to share your war stories and aha moments with the rest of us!