Obama reaches out with online ideas

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Barack Obama has launched a feedback forum on Change.gov, his transition website, to reach out for ideas from US citizens.

As no stranger to galvanising the power of the internet in the run up to winning the US election last November, Obama's website will use hosted customer relationship management (CRM) software to introduce a more collaborative approach to citizen feedback.

Obama’s transition team chose the aptly named CRM Ideas application from software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendor, Salesforce.com working with consulting partner Reside.

The application is now live and will be used to compile the US’ first-ever “Citizen’s Briefing Book”.

The book will comprise the most popular ideas submitted from any US citizen through the application and will be delivered directly to the President-elect after his inauguration on Tuesday 20 January.

In a video on the Change.gov website, Valerie Jarret, co-chair of the Obama-Biden Transition Team, urged citizens to “log onto Change.gov and give us your idea".

"You decide what is important to you. Other citizens will then be able to read your ideas and make comments and suggestions. You may even hear from the transition team,” she said.

Visitors can post their ideas in a variety of categories, such as the economy, education, energy and environment, healthcare, and homeland security. And they can read ideas from other citizens and promote the ones they like best too.

Jarret added: “The Citizen’s Briefing Book will come directly from the American people. It is yet another way that we will ensure that this transition is the most open and transparent one in history.”

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