Government is setting up a blog on its website as part of a move to be less "inward looking" and more "people-centric".

Minister of E-Commerce, Telecommunications and Energy Dennis Lister announced the decision as part of stronger focus on customer insight, which helps determine services needed based on the behaviour, experiences and beliefs held by them.

Mr. Lister said a feasibility study would be undertaken to determine whether to move forward on certain proposals, and a blog installed on Government's website as a prior step. He said: "The Department of E-Government has recently completed a reorganisation plan so that (it) is positioned to take on the additional responsibilities needed to tackle the next wave of people-centric Government.

"With a modest increase in staffing levels, a new section has been added to the Department to initiate the development of a 311 feasibility study, collect relevant data on customer needs as well as working with Government departments to improve Government's business processes.

"Between now and mid 2009, feasibility studies will be undertaken on several of the areas mentioned in formulating the plan and mapping out the way forward.

"The involvement of the population, and local business in providing their input to this plan, will gradually increase, with some initiatives already underway.

"Many matters of public debate could have the quality of their proposed solutions enriched and advanced at a much faster rate using 'customer insight' and the new web 2.0 technologies like blogs and wikis.

"We want you to be involved and will be setting up a blog on the portal for your input. In the interim if you have any immediate responses please send them to insight@gov.bm."

Heading the Department will be Martin Walsh, who has had 26 years of experience in IT and banking services, and was responsible for setting up e-Business product development for Cable & Wireless.

The initial areas under scrutiny will be a possible non-emergency number, or a 311 service closely linked with Gov.bm as a source of information to the public and an information source to staff. There will also be customer journey mapping and the development of a geographic information portal. The aim is to solicit greater public input by making gov.bm more interactive.

Mr. Lister added: "This in effect shifts the Department of E-Government's role from an inward-looking view working primarily with Government departments to also be outward looking, which is designed to create more engagement with the public."