Learn from the mistakes of others

Reducing bureaucracy is one of the Federal Government's declared objectives. The Cabinet adopted the initial key points and measures on 26 February 2003 in order to foster innovation and investment by reducing bureaucratic requirements.

The overall approach to reducing bureaucracy chosen by the Federal Government is based on the following principles:

• concentration on a few crucial areas of activity;
• targeted and noticeable reduction of burdens for as many citizens and businesses as possible;
• use of the latest technology to simplify operating procedures.

In this approach, reducing bureaucracy is regarded as an ongoing process requiring constant support.

...

Many of these administrative services are provided in tandem by the federal, state and local administrations. Lasting improvements can thus only be achieved by viewing operations in their entirety, at all three levels, and fundamentally simplifying them. This requires significant investment in complex technical solutions (keyword: e-government). The federal, state and local governments have agreed to work together closely on e-government. Their joint strategy, known as DeutschlandOnline, will create an integrated e-government landscape, providing citizens and businesses online services spanning all three levels.

The initiative to reduce bureaucracy is a decisive step to foster innovation, increase growth and employment in Germany, and provide efficient, user-friendly administration.

http://www.bmi.bund.de/nn_148260/Internet/Content/Themen/Moderne__Verwaltung/DatenundFakten/The__Federal__Government__Initiative__to__Id__92677__en.html

the government has discovered that one of the biggest obstacles to the progress of their program to reduce bureaucracy has been some of the groups they had hoped would benefit from the program - unions, business groups, and others.

i wonder how well the objectives of the project have been articulated to these interest groups, but equally, whether they have been included in the processes.

[i heard about this on a german english-language current affiars program aired on local community tv]