1(#total) CS5038 The Electronic Society Lecture 8: e-Government Lecture Outline Terminology - G2C,...
-
Upload
rachel-mclaughlin -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
1
Transcript of 1(#total) CS5038 The Electronic Society Lecture 8: e-Government Lecture Outline Terminology - G2C,...
1(#total)
CS5038 The Electronic SocietyLecture 8: e-GovernmentLecture Outline
• Terminology - G2C, G2B, G2E
• Major areas of G2C activities
• Six stages to implementation
• Implementation Problems
• Current state in UK
• E-Government - Increasing Inequality?
• Addressing the Democratic Deficit
• eParticipation
• eGovernment in the Developing World – Sri Lanka
• eGovernment in Singapore
2(#total)
E-GovernmentThe use of electronic technology by a government to: Deliver its services better Improve its efficiency and effectiveness (just like eCommerce)
Less staff needed to serve people quicker/cheaperMake governments more transparent to citizens and businesses Access to more of the information generated by government
Government to citizens (G2C) Delivery of public services etc. (next slide)
Government-to-employees (G2E)Activities and services between government units and their employees
Government to Government (G2G) Intragovernmental activities
Within a Government department and between Government bodies
3(#total)
E-GovernmentGovernment to business (G2B)E-Procurement – reverse auctions for MROs
Group purchasing• eFAST service (gsa.gov) conducts reverse auctions for
aggregated orders
E-Auctions government surpluses real estate seized goods
Tax collection and management electronic filing of taxes is now available in over 100
countries
4(#total)
E-GovernmentMajor areas of G2C activities: http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en
tourism and recreation research and education downloadable forms discovery of government services information about public policy advice about health and safety issues Pay tax & bills, receive documents and payments
Nationwide Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system in U.S. to deliver government benefits electronically
• deliver benefits to recipients’ bank accounts• smart card system for those without bank accounts
Makes government more transparent to citizens - access to information Greater opportunities to participate in democratic institutions Future: voting
Useful in solving constituents’ problems Track problems using CRM-type software
5(#total)
6(#total)
E-Government StagesSix stages to implementation (most governments are at stage 1)
1. Information publishing/dissemination – services available, contact details
2. Two-way transactions - Submit personal information, monetary transactions
3. Multipurpose portals – in Australia: www.sa.gov.au
4. Portal personalisation – must allow interfaces to be manipulated by user
5. Clustering of common services – people see clusters of services rather than agencies– reorganisation of government structure
6. Full integration and enterprise transformation – full service centre personalised to customer
7(#total)
E-Government
Implementation issuesTransformation speed - usually slow:
Resistance by employees Limited budget Legal environment
G2B implementation Easier than G2C Can be outsourced (Hong Kong)
Security and privacy issues Citizens’ data Especially healthcare
Wireless applications E.g. wireless tourist service (Bergen)
8(#total)
E-Government in UKImplementation issues
Has reached the stage of two-way transactions with many sites Fast uptake of broadband in UK, but sparse use of online eGovernment
services by citizens Few government employees have completed their first ECDL module 800 Government bodies spawned 3000 sites (2003)
Need for sites offering related services in one place Each distinct site needs to be clear and focused E.g. housing, transport, education, immigration Public will learn to associate that site with its particular services
Fragmented view of a citizen Many different departments hold records Often Different formats Implementation of cross agency infrastructure lacking
9(#total)
E-Government - Increasing Inequality?Digital divide within UK:
The haves – Broadband access from the homeThe have-nots – no Internet access
Except in Public libraries perhaps May lack skills/education to use it effectively
The elderly – may lack skills, and may not trust faceless interaction
Those on the wrong side of the digital divide may be even more excluded from participation in democracy Important information on candidates at election timeSubmission to ePetitions – for lobbying parliament
Solutions?Brazil offering half a million computers to citizens at low
pricesCredit schemes to assist citizens to buy
10(#total)
Addressing the Democratic DeficitVoter turnout has dropped
11(#total)
Addressing the Democratic Deficit(Many facts from essay by Robert Glasgow)
Voter turnout has dropped in the United States:
70% of eligible population register to vote 50% vote in presidential elections
Western Europe: average 77% turnout UK: 60%
Especially low among young, unemployed, ethnic minorities Latin America: 54% Decline almost wholly concentrated among young people
Membership in political parties: 1950s – 3.5M 2000s – 0.5M
Public Trust in: Politicians 18% Doctors 91%
12(#total)
Addressing the Democratic Deficit
Participation in new social movements has increasedCampaign groups~1M demonstrated against Iraq warNGOs (e.g. Amnesty International) Increasingly on the Internet
People disillusioned with traditional political system?
13(#total)
Electronic ParticipationeRevolution?
Top down benefits: Potential to make citizens More informed
• Streaming footage of debates• Political information
More engaged• Webchats with elected representatives• Online Voting (Estonia and Switzerland)
More trusting Bottom up benefits: Potential for citizens to
Contribute to policy making• Online Questionnaires• Discussion Forums
Propose policies themselves Hold politicians to account
Reach to young people 30% of 15-24yr olds have engaged in online political activity (10%
offline)
14(#total)
Electronic ParticipationCriticisms:
Unrealistic Ignores existing political process
De-legitimises existing institutions Power devolved from elected representatives and placed in
hands of administrative side Politicians may be unable to fulfil campaign promises
Ignores problems in web technologies Easy to set up forum Hard to analyse and collate results – unrealistic software Too open to deception/malicious use
Some politicians view public participation as a threat
15(#total)
Electronic Participation“Big Conversation” - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3245620.stm
77-page document setting out challenges faced by Britain Website gives people a chance to air their views on policies Issues:
Ban workplace smoking? Should rowdy city centre pubs contribute towards policing? Funding in further education and UK How important is the euro to locking in macroeconomic
stability? Criticisms:
Merely a publicity stunt Danger of pressure groups hijacking exercise
16(#total)
Electronic Participation“Big Conversation”
- Guardian Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3245620.stm
“For the duration of its life, the Big Conversation website carried not a single comment from a single voter on: Iraq Terrorism Blair's relationship with Bush
“Working on this newspaper's Diary column at the time, I was contacted almost daily by people who had attempted to address one of the above issues in either an email or text message (price: 25p), but whose comments mysteriously never materialised on the site…”
“As for those that made it through… "I am so proud to have voted Labour with my first ever vote a few
years ago," read one comment. "Everywhere I look I see new cars, wealth, opportunities, investment and most favourable mortgage rates."
17(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing World
"About 99% of the benefits of having a PC come when you've provided reasonable health and literacy to the person who's going to sit down and use it".
Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft
18(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing World
19(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing World
20(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing WorldCase study in Sri Lanka (by Geeth de Mel):
ICT Programme established in 2002
Aims: Improved delivery off social services
Let people access information efficiently Improve inter organisation communication Reducing the vulnerabilities to natural disasters
Example of existing problems: Tsunami of 2004 – still no accurate figures on affected people No mechanisms to support aid organisations in immediate aftermath
Greater transparency Reduce corruption Increased social participation Empowerment off poor Further socio-economic development
21(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing WorldCase study in Sri Lanka (by Geeth de Mel):
Example Failure/SuccessMinistry of Education went online with exam results
System poorly planned and crashed Took department longer than old manual system
Success story from same department in 2004 Introduced new ICT curriculum Success due to Internet+television+radio (more accessible)
22(#total)
eGovernment in the Developing WorldCase study in Sri Lanka (by Geeth de Mel):Difficulties
Lack cash flow – encourage assistance of 3rd parties Vested Interest by 3rd parties can change project goals
Corruption by high ranking officialsSchools starting to get computer labs
But not all villages have electricity IT literacy
City: 35% Rural: <10%
Computer ownership Urban: 10% Rural: 3% Estate: 0.3%
23(#total)
eGovernment in Singaporehttp://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/eCitizen can
do passport application register as resident find jobs in government pay road tax donate to Charities
Government’s role changes from manager to service providerCitizens become like customersDangers:
Dependence on technology also brings vulnerabilityHackers/terrorists
easier than physical attacks on governmentprivacy
24(#total)
eGovernment Summary• Terminology - G2C, G2B, G2E
• Major areas of G2C activities
• Six stages to implementation
• Implementation Problems
• Current state in UK
• E-Government - Increasing Inequality?
• Addressing the Democratic Deficit
• eParticipation
• eGovernment in the Developing World – Sri Lanka
• eGovernment in Singapore