e-Government is the Future of Democracy and Governance [1020]
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By S. Maurer
e-Government is in principle nothing new. The Internet is
primarily a communications medium, not a space to do things,
other than buy the odd book, CD or bottle of wine. And yet there
are hundreds of projects up and down the country, online
communities, pressure groups and learning centres where
e-Government is happening.
e-Government might enable a citizen to access the form they need
to fill out to order a copy of their birth certificate without
needing to know that the Health Department handles the request.
Other services that citizens want online include renewing a
driver's license, voting on the Internet, filing taxes, and
obtaining park information.
Governments were among the first users of computers. But the
global proliferation of the Internet, which effectively
integrates information and communications technology on the
basis of open standards, combined with the movement to reform
public administration known as New Public Management, has for
good reason generated a new wave of interest in the topic.
The implications of IT for the future of government are as yet
dimly perceived, notwithstanding a stream of speculation and
informed commentary on the future of democracy and governance.
Where then have e-Government benefits already been felt by the
public? The sharing of information between services, and making
it available to front-line staff in call centres and one stop
shops makes one think that, to date, the main benefits felt by
the public have been indirect, rather than direct.
Finally an e-government key factor... is the implementation
phase. Usually governments underestimate this phase focusing
instead mostly on design and development.
About the author:
S. Maurer is a 53-years old college graduated IT professional,
with 30 years of experience in the computer & technology
business. Now is the Correspondence Courses Director of the Abet
Open University:
http://distance-learning-mba-online-mba-program-executive-jobs.ne
t and
http://cio-certification-ccio.net.
