Collaboration and Integration in an Online World
The COVID- 19 pandemic is revealing how complex coordination across government agencies and the private sector is. The public health emergency is triggering an all-hands-on-deck approach and is expanding the definition of “essential work.” Although the Government is familiar with responding to disasters and man-made hazards, the scale of the response needed now is leading to new and unexpected challenges. The Governments and the private sector is reimagining interoperable communications and collaboration between State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT), and Federal agencies as the novel coronavirus requires an even more novel approach.
Interoperable communications have traditionally focused on the use of technology systems and radio to exchange information in real-time among SLTT, Federal agencies, and other partners involved in emergency situations such as a disaster. These technology systems help enable and facilitate collaboration and coordination during emergency situations.
During the current crisis, the Government and the private sector is becoming more creative in how they communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with each other and interact with the public. In partnership with government agencies, social media and technology companies are providing an updated twist on public service announcements delivered to phones and computers focused on hygiene practices and complying with government mandates about staying home. The Federal government is even enlisting the help of popular celebrities with tens of millions of followers on social media to reach the public.
Streaming services feature videos from members of the Federal government’s coronavirus taskforce and academic institutions are gathering data from SLTT and Federal agencies to visualize the pandemic and share real-time information. SLTT and Federal agencies are using social media, videoconferencing tools, and press briefings to launch a multi-level front to share real-time and actionable information.
All levels of Government should use this experience to execute lasting change in coordination and collaboration. SLTT and Federal agencies, and the private sector identified their goals early during the pandemic to share information about infections, hygiene practices, and social distancing guidance. For the future, the government, academia, and the private sector should continue to work together to deliver targeted communications to relevant stakeholder groups. This coordination highlighted the value of using a variety of social media platforms and tools (e.g., videos and public service announcements) to reach diverse audiences. SLTT and Federal agencies demonstrated that videoconferencing software such as Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and Zoom offer flexible capabilities for collaboration for both small and large groups to share ideas and messages without in-person interaction.
While technology alone cannot address the challenges in coordination and collaboration between SLTT , the Federal government, and the private sector, developing creative and reliable strategic, data, and communications frameworks can provide a foundation to allow the public and private sectors to confront a range of issues at any scale, together.
