Current Initiatives

Process Technology for Achieving Government Online Dispute Resolution (NSF/NMB)

Dispute resolution is a fundamental and pervasive activity of government. It is essential that it be done in as efficient, effective and fair a manner as possible. This project proposes applying process technology to developing and evaluating dispute resolution processes through online delivery. If successful, it will improve dispute resolution, and deepen understanding of how to be more successful in developing and evaluating processes with the stringent requirements of public governance. The project focus is on the dispute resolution processes and approaches used by the National Mediation Board (NMB). The project builds on UMass research both in process technology and in dispute resolution. Results will be distributed through traditional publication venues and also by the UMass Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution, the UMass Electronic Enterprise Institute, and the NMB’s participation in the US Government Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Working Group.

Definition and Analysis of Election Processes

The initiative will show that process definition and analysis technologies can be used to reason about the vulnerability of election processes with respect to incorrect or fraudulent behaviors by election officials. The Little-JIL language is used to model example election processes, and various election worker fraudulent behaviors. The FLAVERS finite-state verification system is then used to determine whether different combinations of election worker behaviors cause the process to produce incorrect election results or whether protective actions can be used to thwart these threats.

Recent Initiatives

Process Modeling as the Basis for Digitizing Government Processes (NSF)

Much of the work that governments are entrusted with performing can be viewed as the efficient, faithful execution of carefully prescribed processes. To perform these processes, governments generally assign key tasks to new and/or existing agencies and officials. We envision the possibility that government processes can be programmed in a special purpose language, so that computers can provide material assistance to their execution, and analyzers can be employed to spot key defects and omissions. Similarly, policy makers and administrators will be able to see clearly how the automated process would be realized and the requirements placed on their organizations. Once vetted, these processes would then be compiled into specifications of how various agencies and individuals would coordinate their efforts. Computers would be assigned key computational, communication, storage, and visualization tasks in support of the other process performers. This project determined the features and characteristics that are needed in a process definition language capable of supporting effective government process analysis and execution support.

Online License Renewal Analysis: Process Modeling and State Practice Review (Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division)

Electronic Enterprise Institute executed two separate efforts: the application of process modeling to the License Renewal Analysis, and a survey analysis of practices of states other than Massachusetts regarding online license renewal and related activities. Several questions that immediately emerge within the initial stage of this project include:

How can the process-analysis software Little-JIL, developed by researchers at UMass, help OCA in its continued efforts to implement OLR?
What solutions have various innovative E-government states reached in terms of OLR and related online license processing?
What can be learned from an examination of existing online systems?

The attached report presents the results of the study.

The Collective Mind: Collective Learning for Mission Capable Rate and Pulse Reliability Improvement (DARPA)

The study aimed to conceive, design, develop, implement, demonstrate and validate architectures, tools, and techniques that will let commanders better pick reliable equipment for combat missions and understand their readiness during missions. The proposed program will achieved this by creating technology for learning the indications and warnings of equipment failures through the use of the collective operational experience of equipment fleets and their maintainers. This operational learning approach will overcome the barrier of performing long and costly laboratory testing to determine diagnostic and prognostic models. In addition, the program will provide the foundation for the design of future highly reliable military equipment and direct future research on cognitive learning, as well as, diagnostics and prognostics.

Planning Meeting on Information Technology and the States: Public Policy and Public Interests (NAS CSTB)

With the staff of the National Research Council's Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) EEI conducted background research into the nature of state information technology (IT) planning and investment, consulted widely with experts across the country and in a range of disciplines, and focused on experiences in a few states. This project was sponsored by the Knowledge, Creativity & Freedom Program of the Ford Foundation.

Social Security Administration Electronic Service Provision: A Strategic Assessment (NAS CSTB)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) faces significant ongoing change in technology, demographics, and public expectations as it carries out its activities, services, and interactions with a variety of user communities. The Social Security Administration Electronic Service Provision: A Strategic Assessment report examines the SSA’s proposed e-government strategy and provides advice on how the SSA can best deliver services to its user communities in the future.

The assessment by the Committee on the Social Security Administration’s E-Government Strategy and Planning for the Future, lead by Professor Osterweil, was based on (1) its examination of the SSA’s current e-government strategy, including technological assumptions, performance measures and targets, planned operational capabilities, strategic requirements, and future goals; (2) its consideration of strategies, assumptions, and technical and operational requirements in comparable public- and private-sector institutions; and (3) its consideration of the larger organizational, societal, and technological context in which the SSA operates




Welcome People Initiatives	Current Initiatives Process Technology for Achieving Government Online Dispute Resolution (NSF/NMB) Dispute resolution is a fundamental and pervasive activity of government. It is essential that it be done in as efficient, effective and fair a manner as possible. This project proposes applying process technology to developing and evaluating dispute resolution processes through online delivery. If successful, it will improve dispute resolution, and deepen understanding of how to be more successful in developing and evaluating processes with the stringent requirements of public governance. The project focus is on the dispute resolution processes and approaches used by the National Mediation Board (NMB). The project builds on UMass research both in process technology and in dispute resolution. Results will be distributed through traditional publication venues and also by the UMass Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution, the UMass Electronic Enterprise Institute, and the NMB’s participation in the US Government Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Working Group. Definition and Analysis of Election Processes The initiative will show that process definition and analysis technologies can be used to reason about the vulnerability of election processes with respect to incorrect or fraudulent behaviors by election officials. The Little-JIL language is used to model example election processes, and various election worker fraudulent behaviors. The FLAVERS finite-state verification system is then used to determine whether different combinations of election worker behaviors cause the process to produce incorrect election results or whether protective actions can be used to thwart these threats. Recent Initiatives Process Modeling as the Basis for Digitizing Government Processes (NSF) Much of the work that governments are entrusted with performing can be viewed as the efficient, faithful execution of carefully prescribed processes. To perform these processes, governments generally assign key tasks to new and/or existing agencies and officials. We envision the possibility that government processes can be programmed in a special purpose language, so that computers can provide material assistance to their execution, and analyzers can be employed to spot key defects and omissions. Similarly, policy makers and administrators will be able to see clearly how the automated process would be realized and the requirements placed on their organizations. Once vetted, these processes would then be compiled into specifications of how various agencies and individuals would coordinate their efforts. Computers would be assigned key computational, communication, storage, and visualization tasks in support of the other process performers. This project determined the features and characteristics that are needed in a process definition language capable of supporting effective government process analysis and execution support. Online License Renewal Analysis: Process Modeling and State Practice Review (Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division) Electronic Enterprise Institute executed two separate efforts: the application of process modeling to the License Renewal Analysis, and a survey analysis of practices of states other than Massachusetts regarding online license renewal and related activities. Several questions that immediately emerge within the initial stage of this project include: How can the process-analysis software Little-JIL, developed by researchers at UMass, help OCA in its continued efforts to implement OLR? What solutions have various innovative E-government states reached in terms of OLR and related online license processing? What can be learned from an examination of existing online systems? The attached report presents the results of the study. The Collective Mind: Collective Learning for Mission Capable Rate and Pulse Reliability Improvement (DARPA) The study aimed to conceive, design, develop, implement, demonstrate and validate architectures, tools, and techniques that will let commanders better pick reliable equipment for combat missions and understand their readiness during missions. The proposed program will achieved this by creating technology for learning the indications and warnings of equipment failures through the use of the collective operational experience of equipment fleets and their maintainers. This operational learning approach will overcome the barrier of performing long and costly laboratory testing to determine diagnostic and prognostic models. In addition, the program will provide the foundation for the design of future highly reliable military equipment and direct future research on cognitive learning, as well as, diagnostics and prognostics. Planning Meeting on Information Technology and the States: Public Policy and Public Interests (NAS CSTB) With the staff of the National Research Council's Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) EEI conducted background research into the nature of state information technology (IT) planning and investment, consulted widely with experts across the country and in a range of disciplines, and focused on experiences in a few states. This project was sponsored by the Knowledge, Creativity & Freedom Program of the Ford Foundation. Social Security Administration Electronic Service Provision: A Strategic Assessment (NAS CSTB) The Social Security Administration (SSA) faces significant ongoing change in technology, demographics, and public expectations as it carries out its activities, services, and interactions with a variety of user communities. The Social Security Administration Electronic Service Provision: A Strategic Assessment report examines the SSA’s proposed e-government strategy and provides advice on how the SSA can best deliver services to its user communities in the future. The assessment by the Committee on the Social Security Administration’s E-Government Strategy and Planning for the Future, lead by Professor Osterweil, was based on (1) its examination of the SSA’s current e-government strategy, including technological assumptions, performance measures and targets, planned operational capabilities, strategic requirements, and future goals; (2) its consideration of strategies, assumptions, and technical and operational requirements in comparable public- and private-sector institutions; and (3) its consideration of the larger organizational, societal, and technological context in which the SSA operates

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