How does one deal with resistence to change in Government?

In a recent project on computerisation in a government ministry, I had the chance to see the functioning of the various officials, be it senior IAS Officers/ Bureacrats or that of the officers at the junior levels, there is immense resistence that one can see in the day to day operations.

Take for example, if we were to deal with keeping the work place congenial and pleasant, it requires that the seniors (in designation, but could be junior in age) must deal people with respect. But in the government, what one sees is that people have become insolent and impertinent to seniors, due to the scenario of being insulted, not recognized for the hard work they put in.

Given that the Ministry is planning a computerisation programme that will span next five years, and the programme will undergo many changes, both technically and as Government Process Re-engineering, New ways of knowledge sharing and communications are to be introduced, people to be trained, and leadership celebrated.

These, and other change management strategies are being worked out and I am delighted to be an important strategic consultant for this! See more posts on Change management and capacity building from me here on.

eINDIA 2008 is just 11 days away!

At CSDMS where I have been working since April 2004, we have so far organised five major international level muti-track conferences. The upcoming event eINDIA 2008 will be held in Delhi's exhibition grounds called Pragati Maidan.

From July 29-31, the venue will be the hub of India's largest Information and Communications Technology Event, bringing in over 4000 delegates, 350 speakers, 125 exhibitors and specialists in seven themes.

Several partners, exhibitors, supporters from government, private sector, NGOs, international agencies, development organisations and networks have joined hands to make this a mega event. Conferencing, networking, knowledge sharing, making friends, and learning from demonstrations and workshops will be the key purpose of this mega event. There will be fun evenings too with Awards, Music, and magical transformation of the knowedge sharing space to a relaxing and rejuvenating space with live music and band.

The themes are: egov, ehealth, digital learning, eagriculture, mserve, municipal IT,and telecentres.

There is a grand eINDIA awards ceremony too. There are over 150 applicants for the awards in each thematic area, and six to seven awards under each theme. In all over 42/45 people will be felicitated.

For more information, log on to www.eINDIA.net.in/2008