“The 2011 UIC e-Government Workshop http://www.uic.edu/depts/oee/egovernment/sessions.html highlighted ways that government agencies can achieve IT efficiencies through the use of information technology through collaboration, specifically collaboration with the private sector through cloud computing, and collaboration between levels of government through shared services arrangements.

In addition to sessions on using technology to achieve cost savings, the workshop also featured a panel on using technology to promote e-democracy, including ways for citizens to give government input on policy issues.  One of the panelists was Steven Clift, an online innovator who focuses his work on the use of the internet in democracy, governance and community. He is the founder of E-democracy.org, a site that hosts online tools for community conversations.”