IBM Institute for Business Value elaborates on the theory of "Perpetual Collaboration," which implies that every nation, region and locality must shift to an individualized approach for dealing with demographic shifts, globalization changes, environmental concerns, societal relationships, social stability and technology improvements.

1. IBM Global Business Services
IBM Institute for Business Value
Government
Government 2020 and the perpetual collaboration mandate
Six worldwide drivers demand customized strategies
Unquestionably, many types of chal-
lenges are underway and governments
The future of societies around the world is being shaped by six drivers must respond in a more comprehensive
outside the realm of government control. Powerful changes related to manner than ever before. In developing
tailored responses, a new dimension of
demographics, globalization, environmental concerns, societal relationships,
greatly enhanced collaboration is the
social stability and technology will affect virtually every government, ultimate capability governments need,
demanding individualized responses suited to each nation, region or as it will form the foundation of strategies
necessary for coping with these drivers.
locality. These nearly universal drivers will require “perpetual collaboration” More connectedness and coopera-
that starts with intensified, multi-directional communications, and shared tion is needed than ever before: across
operational and technical standards. Beyond those core essentials, effective agencies, across societies, across
governments, and with more constituen-
strategies also hinge on government commitments to facilitate efforts cies. This paper offers an approach for
involving multiple agencies (within and across borders), and improve government action to achieve this inten-
sified, multilayered, multidirectional capa-
partnering with transnational organizations.
bility that we call perpetual collaboration.
Six inescapable forces are No two nations are the same and so,
simultaneously now underway, over each driver will play itself out uniquely in Perpetual collaboration: What it
which governments and societies any given society. There are wide varia- will take
have limited control. Because of their tions among nations as far as historical How well governments can respond to
virulent and simultaneous nature, we experiences, social values, aspirations the positive and negative effects of the
describe them here not just as forces, and constraints. Addressing the chal- six global drivers will greatly influence
but as drivers. These six drivers share lenges ahead will require a shift from the the ability of citizens to prosper in the
a striking commonality, in that each will traditional government approach of slow, coming years. Each nation must begin
touch virtually all nations in one way or measured actions in the face of change. to tailor perpetual collaboration strate-
another: gies that address the impacts of the six
Instead, governments must first antici- global drivers – all within the context of
1. Changing demographics pate change by determining which its own unique mix of aspirations and
2. Accelerating globalization drivers are most critical in light of their constraints.
own unique set of circumstances.
3. Rising environmental concerns
Second, based on those priorities, Every approach to strategy design must
4. Evolving societal relationships nations must be proactive, designing and be related to improved collaboration.
5. Growing threats to social stability and then implementing customized strategies This is because the issues involved
and solutions. require enhanced communication and
order
6. Expanding impact of technology.

2. connectedness among growing numbers strategies. Establishing a framework of © Copyright IBM Corporation 2008
and types of organizations, governments, perpetual collaboration – multilayered IBM Global Services
Route 100
agencies or other private sector entities communication in many forms, Somers, NY 10589
across multiple dimensions (see Figure 1). connecting with entities both within U.S.A.
and across country and organizational Produced in the United States of America
FIGURE 1. 04-08
boundaries – is the best first step to help All Rights Reserved
Perpetual collaboration – the core capability the public sector meet its wide range of
governments will need. IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks or
constituent needs. registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation in the United States, other
Organization, Parterships, countries, or both.
Ultimately, one can ask the simple
culture and intermediaries Other company, products and service names
governance and exchanges
question, “How will we know that may be trademarks or service marks of others.
governments have implemented the References in this publication to IBM products
kinds of changes needed to address the and services do not imply that IBM intends to
Perpetual make them available in all countries in which
consequences of the drivers and public IBM operates.
collaboration
responses?”
Personalized Knowledge We live in uncertain times of threats To download a full version of this paper,
interaction and creation and and great opportunities, when mega-
services sharing visit ibm.com/government/2020
drivers are profoundly starting to affect
how governments function. There is
Source: IBM Institute for Business Value.
no second chance for addressing
these in a correct way – officials, their
Establishing and maintaining a framework constituents and allies together must
of perpetual collaboration supports the “get it right” the first time. Engaging large
objective of exchanging information sectors of society in an effective process
in any form, for any channel, between of perpetual collaboration holds out the
any type of sender and receiver. It is greatest hope for success. That calls for
intended to leverage available capabilities facing facts, deciding what to do, and
across all facets of a society, not just acting now.
within the governmental environment.
As organizations become more virtual,
and shift from “hierarchical and vertical” How can IBM help?
to “diffuse and horizontal,” perpetual • Strategy and Change: Help to define your strategy and manage change
collaboration can enable greater • Component Business Modeling (CBM) tools and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA):
teamwork and interconnectedness. Help with selecting where to focus your organization and building flexible IT infrastructures
The idea of “virtual organizations” will
• Selected Public Sector Solutions: Social Services & Social Security solution, Government
increasingly shift from being a concept
Shared Service Center, Enterprise Application Integration and Customer Relationship
to becoming the way successful
Management
governments function.
Starting now, governments must work Key contacts:
to simultaneously deal with the effects IBM Institute for Business Value: James Cortada, jwcorta@us.ibm.com
of the six nearly universal drivers that
Public Sector: Global Sietze Dijkstra, sietze.dijkstra@nl.ibm.com
are reshaping the world. Balancing
the impact of these drivers with their Americas Quimby Kaizer, quimby.kaizer@us.ibm.com
own nations’ particular aspirations and Europe Richard Jones, richard.c.jones@uk.ibm.com and
constraints, each government and Frans Bentlage, frans.bentlage@nl.ibm.com
society will need to develop suitable Japan Yukabi B. Kobayashi, YUKARIKS@jp.ibm.com
Asia Pacific Michael Dixon, mdixon@au1.ibm.com
GBE03039-USEN-04