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Presented by Adrienne Bitoy Jackson

What do we mean by “TRANSPARENCY”?

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“Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset….

Executive departments and agencies should harness new technologies to put information about their operations and decisions online…. and should also solicit public feedback to identify information of greatest use to the public.”

President Barack Obama

What do we mean by “TRANSPARENCY”?

Transparency is the availability of information on matters of public concern, the ability of citizens to participate in political decisions, and the accountability of government to engage public opinion or legal processes.

Transparency helps assess organizational performance; it is critical to creating organizational accountability.

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e.g.The Federal Register, the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies & organizations, and as executive orders and other presidential documents

Stakeholders and Processes

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Transparency is the open sharing of organizational information whether positive or negative, resulting in increased organizational accountability to stakeholders. (Hatcher, 2003)

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FOR CLARITY… EASILY COMPREHENSIBLE

Is it well written, that is can we understand it readily /quickly?

NO HIDDEN MEANINGS

Did we explain meanings not plainly stated?

CONTAINS MINIMAL JARGON

How many acronyms are used?

PRECISE AND SIMPLE

Do we need technical knowledge to understand?

How can we determine when our communications have TRANSPARENCY?

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FOR INTEGRATION…PRESENTS COMPLETE PROCESS

Is the decision fully laid out and disclosed?

CONSOLIDATED IN A SINGLE DOCUMENT-

Is a context for the decision provided?

PROVIDES REFERENCE TO EXTERNAL SOURCES FOR

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Are references provided?

INCLUDES TABLE OF CONTENTS AND INDICES

Is there a table of contents?

Is there an index?

Are abbreviations listed for the communication’s receiver?

How can we determine when our communications have TRANSPARENCY?

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FOR ACCESSIBILITY…ALLOWS CITIZENS TO ACCESS AND RECEIVE

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

Is the decision information physically available?

provides two-way access to information

stakeholders have access to government process, and

government has access to stakeholders values

Is the decision information available on the Internet?

Do related Internet sites reference the decision?

How can we determine when our communications have TRANSPARENCY?

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FOR LOGIC AND RATIONALE…PROCESSES ARE CONSISTENT, UNIFORM AND

FORMALIZED

Is a reliable process used?

PROVIDES BASIS FOR DECISIONS

Are clear decision points defined?

Is the justification for the decision described?

IDENTIFIES CLEAR DECISION POINTS

Is enough information about values expressed to create a value tree?

How can we determine when our communications have TRANSPARENCY?

What methods can be used to promote TRANSPARENCY?

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Allow opportunities for

them to express their

feelings, frustrations

and to ask questions to

decrease their level

of insecurity and

tension.

information sessions for workers to share policies, decisions & organizational functions.

What methods can be used to promote TRANSPARENCY?

Pre-proposal meetings via webinars can contribute to transparency.

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What methods can be used to promote TRANSPARENCY?

Online public comment forums that are orderly i.e., with public hearings decorum, so they are civil and insightful (as well as legal) can be used as town hall meetings to enhance transparency.

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What methods can be used to promote TRANSPARENCY?

Streaming videos and audio of board governance meetings, with published schedules, agendas, items and resolutions that can be electronically distributed, printed, and archived for public accessibility.

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A government that is transparent and accountable

to its residents is a more effective government. When intentions are known there is

transparency, hidden agendas become

non existent.

This is why it’s essential for public trust

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• http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_pre

ss_office/TransparencyandOpenG

overnment

• http://www.instituteforpr.org/wp-

content/uploads/Transparency-

and-City-Government-

Communications.pdf

• http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/

2010/03/10/introducing-the-cycle-

of-transparency/

• http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgat

e/gsa/transparency_000.pdf

• http://topics.nextgov.com/transpare

ncy/

• http://fdncenter.visibli.com/share/J

Gb8X9

• http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.g

ov/government/openmeet.pdf

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For more information on TRANSPARENCY

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