Some of us who have been working in the space for 10+ years have a great deal of knowledge of what does and doesn’t work.

Whereas many newcomers seem to focus on the fads – let’s all have a ‘blog’ (but no comments because someone might hurt our feelings) – at the expense of really understanding the online ecosystem.

As a full-time fed who runs a “Gov 2.0″-style project at an agency and the founder of GovLoop.com – a social network of over 5k govies where we talk about this stuff all the time, I am greatly intrigued how the evolution of “Gov 2.0″ will happen.

My couple quick thoughts (some overlap):
1) Gov’t is made of hundreds of agencies. And then you talk about all the divisions in each one (i.e. multiple different initiatives from various not-always coordinated groups at places like State/EPA/etc). Tons of different players at different stages.
2) Procurement doesn’t quite know how to deal with small engagements. I don’t see these as 5-year, $30 million projects which is what the gov’t is used to. I’m guessing they might just add a person or two (and some tech) to contracts already in place.
3) I think it’s great to see the two communities grow and connect. There is a strong contingent of full-time govies (and contractors already at an agency) that coordinate frequently at places like Federal Web Managers events, GovLoop.com, and Collaboration Project events. The new breeds (the Googles, Sunlight Foundations, and more general social media/web 2.0 consultants/companies) are starting to show up and sponsor events. The cross-over is good for both parties as there is a lot to learn from both. I’ve seen a number of events pop up lately with a good mix in crowds.

And don’t worry, gov’t folks have been pitched by a million consultants selling us a pot of gold for a penny for years. We can figure it out.

Finally, I’m not really worried about the buzz-words. Whether Gov 2.0 is appropriate. Does Web 3.0 exist? To me, in the end, it is about enabling conversations to disseminate and build knowledge (gov’t to gov’t, gov’t to citizen, etc)

Tee: “Within the Social Media community, people are making up words that only thickens the “Geek Speak” soup, causing confusion for those wanting to implement it.”

This particularly relates to my situation at Ontario government. We’re using a lot of new media/multimedia tactics in our strategies now, but “Web 2.0,” they are not. Even the YouTube channel we’re about to launch for our AccessOn.ca site will not be true social media: the comments will be closed, and in my opinion, that removes the social aspect all together.

Greg Elin: “For those of you out there with Web 2.0 skills, bring your skills and your enthusiasm. Just check your assumptions and ego at the door.”

Absolutely correct! I’m 24 years old. I’ve been using computers since I was 10, and started using two-way communication channels like BBS and chat rooms since I was 12. My two older brothers are both computer geeks and I learned through osmosis how computers work, inside and out. I went to school for public relations, corporate communications, and was taught to believe in the principles the underlying theory professes: honesty, two-way communication with your stakeholders/audiences, and delivering information for the good of the public interest. I’m an idealist and deeply believe in those values, and I see avenues being paved by Web 2.0/Social media technologies that will ultimately align with true democratic values – enabling a voice for every citizen and a more efficient and transparent government.

But it will not happen overnight. Not even with a new charismatic, forward-thinking U.S. president. This is a starting point and we need to respect that… people are too eager to jump into this game without understanding that you can’t shatter a paradigm. You can start chipping away at it, creating fractures on its surface, but to break it completely requires time and patience.

I’ve put together a focused collection of links, Government Hacker Reference Documents, that Government 2.0 trainees should know.

That said, I think it will be great to have people with proven track records in Web 2.0 working with people with proven track records in government, and a few people who have whacky ideas. That’s what’s great about the Internet: great insights and innovations come from unexpected places.

Many people have been probing at the interface of government and Web 2.0 for a while, both from the inside and from the outside. That’s what we keep discovering over at the Sunlight Foundation — just how much is going on.

For those of you out there with Web 2.0 skills, bring your skills and your enthusiasm. Just check your assumptions and ego at the door. Those of with you with just plain enthusiasm, you are invited, too. After all, that’s how the web started…

@Joseph Zuccaro says correctly that in the “land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” A vast majority of the public, let alone USFG executives, do not know or understand what it takes to have a successful W/E 2.0 initiative. Unfortunately, Aaron is correct in his worries. There will be a rush of bandits to sell “Web 2.0″ solutions to the Federal market. All I can think is, “Great a whole new set of IT integration problems I have to fix . . . “

The good news at least, is that all this “gov 2.0″ talk is getting more people involved and thinking about different ways to get things done. The real “experts” will come out on top, and the carpetbaggers will get left behind.

*retreats into bunker*

However, someone with less “expertise” can be a better proposal writer or can be better at teaming with prime contractors and get the work. That is what I also meant by being a better “marketer.” The procurement system does not necessarily create a level playing field. It sometimes favors those who score the best, not the best.