This week, we distill insights around Open Ministry - an open web platform that enables Finnish citizens to propose and vote on legislature. Proposals with 50,000 signatures are entered into parliament. 100+ thinkers and planners within MSLGROUP share and discuss inspiring projects on corporate citizenship, crowdsourcing, storytelling and social data on the MSLGROUP Insights Network. Every week, we pick up one project and do a deep dive into conversations around it -- on the MSLGROUP Insights Network itself but also on the broader social web -- to distill insights and foresights. We share these insights and foresights with you on our People’s Insights blog and compile the best insights from the network and the blog in the iPad-friendly People’s Lab Quarterly Magazine, as a showcase of our capabilities. For more, see: http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

1. crowdsourcing | storytelling | citizenship | social data
People’s Insights: Volume 1, Issue 46
Open Ministry

2. What is Open Ministry?
Open Ministry is an open web platform launched by non-profit
entrepreneurs to facilitate the Finland Citizen’s Initiative Act, which gives
citizens the right to propose legislation to the Finnish Parliament.
singularityhub.com

3. How does it work?
Citizens can propose and vote on new legislature online through Open
Ministry. The proposed legislation must gather support from 50,000
citizens of voting age within six months to be considered by parliament.
avoinministeraio.fi

4. Collaborative social innovation
The initiative involves collaboration both between the government and
the people, as well as among people, with volunteers running the
platform and converting proposals into legal form.
enterpriseefficiency.com/author.asp?section_id=2159&doc_id=247904

5. CSR opportunity for brands
Several banks and telecom providers have supported the initiative by
providing free access to their verification APIs, thus enabling Open
Ministry to verify the identity of voters.
peopleslab.mslgroup.com

6. Revival of trust in government?
Thinkers believe that the transparency that is inherent in Open Ministry
platform can lead to greater accountability for government officials and
increase of trust in officials.
openinggovernment.org/finland-is-about-to-change-what-we-mean-by-law-making/

7. Can crowdsourcing lead to social change?
In October 2012, the first citizen-proposed law, a ban on fur farming,
entered Parliament with the support 55,000 citizens. Thinkers are
watching developments to gauge the success of the initiative.
gigaom.com/2012/02/28/could-crowdsourcing-be-a-better-way-to-make-legislation/

8. Do we need a new paradigm for lawmaking?
While some question if crowdsourcing can be effective in creating
serious legislature, some question whether the current definition of
legislature is still relevant in today’s world.
openinggovernment.org/finland-is-about-to-change-what-we-mean-by-law-making/

9. Can Open Ministry work elsewhere?
Thinkers highlight the progress of the initiative to Finland’s open culture
and history of collaboration between citizens and government.
Elsewhere, this initiative may fall victim to pranksters.
slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/11/05/open_ministry_finland_s_open_source_project_to_l
et_citizens_propose_laws.html

10. Other open governance initiatives
People now call for an open democracy and thinkers believe in a
‘writeable’ society. This change is evident in the number of open
governance initiatives in Europe, Brazil and even the U.S.
Clockwise: U.S.’s Petition White House, Latvia's Mana Balss, Iceland’s Constitutional Council,
France’s WeSign.it

11. More People’s Insights Weekly reports
Every week, we dive into one topic for discussion on the MSLGROUP
Insight’s Network and discuss insights and foresights, in four key areas:
crowdsourcing, storytelling, citizenship and social data.
Crowdsourcing Storytelling Citizenship Social Data
Mahindra Spark the Rise @MarsCuriosity #Kony2012 MTV Fantasy Election
For more reports, visit: peopleslab.mslgroup.com/peoplesinsights/

12. Read People’s Lab insights and foresights
The People’s Lab team shares the insights and foresights from the
MSLGROUP Insights Network on the People’s Insights weekly blog and
the People’s Insights Quarterly magazine.
MSLGROUP Insights People’s Insights People’s Insights
Network weekly blog Quarterly magazine
50+ MSLGROUP planners We deep dive into Every quarter, we will compile
share and discuss inspiring conversations around one the best insights from the
projects on corporate project -- on the MSLGROUP network and the blog in the
citizenship, crowdsourcing and Insights Network itself but also iPad-friendly magazine, as a
storytelling. on the broader social web -- to showcase of our capabilities.
distill insights and foresights.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

13. People’s Insights Annual Report
In early January 2013 we will publish the ten-part People’s Insights
Annual Report, in which we synthesize our insights from 2012 and
provide foresights for business leaders and change-makers for 2013.
Now & Next: Future of Part 1: Crowdfunding Part 2: Behavior Change
Engagement Games
(coming soon as an iPad app)
Subscribe to the report at: http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com/peoplesinsights/annual-report/

14. People’s Lab: Crowdsourcing Insights &
Innovation
People’s Lab is MSLGROUP’s proprietary crowdsourcing platform and
approach that helps organizations tap into people’s insight for
innovation, storytelling and change.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

15. For People’s Lab
solutions, contact
pascal.beucler@mslgroup.com