Introduction

In the first phase of this project, information was gathered on the current thinking in the NZ Public Service on shared workspace; how that thinking is being translated into technology initiatives relating to policy development and project management; and how this compares to what is available and happening in other jurisdictions. This report is the second work-in-progress paper by the Project Team to outline progress to date. Following the sign-off of the previous work-in-progress paper, there was a range of tasks the Project Team had to do to progress the project. This included following up on some Public Service initiatives that were left uncompleted in the first phase. While we can report that the majority of these tasks were completed, there are still one or two gaps still to fill. A work report has been submitted to the Project Sponsors. The work in this phase of the project has similarly produced a number of leads that the Project Team will continue to follow. It is not our intention to canvas in this paper the issues rising from this additional work, except where they impinge materially on the user needs. These additional issues will be covered off in the final project report due in February. The scope of this paper focuses entirely on the feedback received from the Focus Groups. The intention is to use this material as an input to the final report to be prepared in February 2001.

Focus of this report

The Project Team [ This paper has been co-authored by the Project Team members, Rose O'Neill (Project Manager); Sandi Beatie (Synergy International). It is written in the first person, as a work-in-progress. The project is owned and managed by the State Services Commission as a subproject of the Secure Electronic Environment work.  Franz Ombler (Treasury) is also part of the Project Team, but was overseas during this phase of the project.] held a series of six Focus Group meetings with a range of experienced Public Service policy staff to discuss the concept of electronic shared workspace. The participants in the Focus Group meetings were from a random selection of departments across the Public Service, who responded to an invitation to attend and discuss this project (Appendix 1). In this respect, their views do not formally represent those of the whole Public Service, and should also not be construed as formal departmental views. Rather, they are an indication of the range of views held by people who would use a shared workspace system. As such, the information gained from the Focus Groups is valuable data to assess the needs of potential users. Each of the Focus Group meetings was held at the State Services Commission. Participants were invited to contribute their thoughts on potential benefits of an electronic shared workspace; required functionality; protocols that might be required to make such a space work; barriers to success; and any issues that would need to be addressed. This report outlines the responses received, and the key issues raised in the discussion sessions.