Kevin C. Desouza recently coauthored a Brookings Institute report that outlines several emerging technological trends and cultural shifts that are directly impacting local economies and governments. According to the research, the recurring shifts in technological abilities are becoming increasingly disruptive and destabilizing. The report’s authors recommend local governments proactively experiment with new technologies and innovations to overcome stagnant processes and avoid being left behind. The researchers suggest local governments convert themselves into “lean, responsive and adaptive organizations capable of rapid response to societal shifts” rather than remain vulnerable and reactive to each innovation.
In a piece for Governing, Desouza zeroes in on four specific recommendations for local government leaders working to stay ahead of emerging technology trends that are creating economic disruption in local markets:
- Leverage Regionalism and Local Partnerships Partnerships provide local governments with valuable capital and resources to identify challenges and solutions in a proactive fashion. Partners can work together to increase situational awareness while pooling tools and expertise to find solutions faster and more efficiently. Regional partnerships further enhance the power of innovation by enabling leadership to see trends, interdependencies and connectivity among communities. This allows for the creation of more integrated solutions.
- Increase Global Connections Building upon regional partnerships, Desouza recommends branching out globally to build idea-exchange networks. When collaborating with municipalities of similar size, demographics and economic makeup, leaders can share ideas and best practices more readily.
- Consider How Disrupters Can Be Leveraged to Benefit the Local Community Municipalities should embrace new technologies and consider their many uses to benefit local residents. The sooner local officials start to intertwine new technologies into community processes, the faster the tools can be used to improve quality of life and economic growth.
- Create a Team of Disrupters Desouza suggests calling on members of a variety of fields to build a team of internal disrupters charged with researching and testing the latest technologies. These disrupters can come from academia, community organization and the private sector - all bringing unique expertise and resources to the project.
Desouza explains public organizations should take on the responsibility of nurturing technological innovation to ensure future disrupters are working for the community not creating disasters within it.
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