Wrapping the network around a new idea

In the context of post on NASCIO's instant messaging Research Brief, Nick Mudge references a post of mine on the pending retirement of many state employees. Government Technology, as I have pointed out before, is on top of this story. Thanks Nick.

The two ideas are connected. I continue to believe that the coming generation of civil service employees are going to demand a "right to connect". That does not mean that security will be tossed out the window. But I do think it will require state government to accommodate new ways of communicating that won't easily conform to the command and control structures currently in place.

Mapping the information sharing of an entire public service workforce is fundamentally a wicked problem. Progress is being made. NASTD is working with NASCIO on some of the architecture issues related to communications infrastructure.

Still, I can foresee a time when a new employee shows up on the job and informs her boss what IT tools she'll be using. Perhaps she will be required to pass a test identifying her knowledge of secure communications. And if she passes, the network will conform to her.