We're looking for people seriously into cross-boundary reforms -- i.e., reforms involving more than one reasonably independent institution seeking to coordinate their work in some new technology-enabled way.

Much of health care reform meets this criterion. If electronic medial records are to be well-designed and used, doctors, nurses, hospitals, labs, insurers, governments, and patients must all change how they work together. Homeland security raises similar challenges. So do reforms in education and even basic back-office services like the HR services that could be more efficiently offered on an enterprise-wide or even broader basis (Nova Scotia, for example, is implementing the same ERP applications for the province, the municipalities within the province, the hospitals, and the universities -- cross-boundary to the nth degree.)

We're looking for real-world cross-boundary initiatives, where something is being planned or already underway that would be of interest to others.

We plan to make these initiatives the subject of "charette" or problem-solving sessions at our May 22-24 workshop. At the workshop we will, in particular, explore portfolio management as a way to hedge risk, and communications programs as a key for cross-boundary success.

If your initiative is selected, you will get a full scholarship to the workshop -- a $2,100 value.

To win, simply send me an email with a brief description of what you are doing:

What are you trying to accomplish? Who is involved and why is it a cross-boundary effort? What are the risks and/or communications problems you are facing?

Keep your description to a page or less (although you can send supplemental materials along separately if you'd like).

I hope to hear from you soon. We'll announce the winners by Friday May 5.

Best regards,

Jerry
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Jerry Mechling, Kennedy School of Government , 617-495-3036

Please join us:
May 22-24: "Portfolio Management and Communications" for cross-boundary implementations:
http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/lnwportfolio