In a recent commentary, MA’s editor-in-chief David Brousell outlined what manufacturers might be looking for from U.S. President-elect Obama as he opens a new chapter in our country’s modern history. David suggests that the new president can choose to prioritize ideas that boost manufacturing competitiveness, and “help pave the way to a better future for industry.” In fact, Obama’s imminent appointment of a federal chief technology officer seems like tangible evidence of a government that plans to help lead manufacturers and other companies by example – by emphasizing the importance of technology to competing in the 21st century.
As David’s article hints, few envy Obama the heap of challenges he will face as president. But the other side of the coin, of course, is that challenges invariably open the way for opportunities. Addressing the needs of the faltering automotive industry, for example, can lead to new answers for U.S. manufacturing as a whole. Meanwhile, the appointment of a CTO at the federal level shows that the government – the business that runs our country – is concerned with the same issues all businesses face. For better or worse, companies will learn from the U.S. CTO’s experiences.
The appointment itself is cause for optimism. If nothing else, it shows that the new administration is ready to take a modern approach to the country’s needs. As a recent CNN article co-authored by Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, says, “It's no wonder that the online world nearly burst with excitement upon hearing the news.”
As the government moves to get its own technological house in order, the immediate benefits should be two-fold, at the very least. First, private businesses will be able to model their technology initiatives after successful Internet, Web 2.0, or other projects by the government, which will be followed closely by the media and all manner of interested parties. Second, as it faces the same challenges as private sector businesses, the federal government will necessarily gain a sympathetic appreciation for what it means to meet contemporary technological demands — and maybe even be in a position to offer help.
The things this new administration is able to accomplish will set the country’s course for years to come. The administration’s decisions, like those of manufacturing companies, will be critical to our endurance in the 21st century.
—Diane Himes, MA Senior Editor
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Posted by Diane Himes at 01/09/2009 04:55:38 PM |