Government?
The term e-Government is understood differently across the world. E-Government or Electronic Government is the delivery of more convenient, customer-oriented and cost effective public services and sharing of information through electronic media. Specifically, e-Government harnesses information and communication technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.
The term e-Government is understood differently across the world. E-Government or Electronic Government is the delivery of more convenient, customer-oriented and cost effective public services and sharing of information through electronic media. Specifically, e-Government harnesses information and communication technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.
What is the difference between e-Government and e-Governance?
E-Government is the transformation of internal and external public sector relationships, through Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in order to optimize government service delivery and citizen participation. Digital society is a society or community that is well advanced in the adoption and integration of digital technology into daily life at home, work and play.
E-Governance is the development, deployment and enforcement of the policies, laws and regulations necessary to support the functioning of a Knowledge Society as well as of e-Government.
What are the objectives of e-Governance?
The strategic objective of e-Governance is to support and simplify governance for government, citizens and businesses. The use of ICT can connect all three parties and support processes and activities. Other objectives are to make government administration more transparent, speedy and accountable, while addressing the society’s needs and expectations through efficient public services and effective interaction between the people, businesses and government.
The strategic objective of e-Governance is to support and simplify governance for government, citizens and businesses. The use of ICT can connect all three parties and support processes and activities. Other objectives are to make government administration more transparent, speedy and accountable, while addressing the society’s needs and expectations through efficient public services and effective interaction between the people, businesses and government.
What are the benefits of e-Governance?
E-Governance offers many benefits and advantages for the government, corporate sector and society. E-Governance facilitates better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. It simplifies internal operations and improves performance of government departments while helping all sections of society to avail government services at lower cost with maximum ease of use.
E-Governance offers many benefits and advantages for the government, corporate sector and society. E-Governance facilitates better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. It simplifies internal operations and improves performance of government departments while helping all sections of society to avail government services at lower cost with maximum ease of use.
Here are several specific benefits of e-Governance.
By employing online transactions, government processes become more streamlined, efficient and less dependent on human interaction. Also the cost of processing transactions is reduced online, resulting in great savings.
Interconnecting various ministries and government departments electronically to share information helps them provide better governance.
Through one integrated e-Government portal, citizens and businesses can avail of various government services, conduct online transactions, access information and interact with various government bodies without standing in long queues, waiting for office hours or handling lot of paperwork, and thus save time and money.
By employing online transactions, government processes become more streamlined, efficient and less dependent on human interaction. Also the cost of processing transactions is reduced online, resulting in great savings.
Interconnecting various ministries and government departments electronically to share information helps them provide better governance.
Through one integrated e-Government portal, citizens and businesses can avail of various government services, conduct online transactions, access information and interact with various government bodies without standing in long queues, waiting for office hours or handling lot of paperwork, and thus save time and money.
In short, e-Governance brings about ‘anytime anywhere access to the right person’.
Tell me more about an e-Governance model.
E-Government applications normally evolve through a four-stage process. The four stages are Information, Interaction, Transaction and Transformation. The first stage includes the publication of information on a website for citizens seek knowledge about procedures governing the delivery of different services. The second stage involves interactivity. Clients can download applications for receiving services. The third stage involves electronic delivery of documents. The fourth stage involves electronic delivery of services where more than one department may be involved in processing a service request or service.
E-Government applications normally evolve through a four-stage process. The four stages are Information, Interaction, Transaction and Transformation. The first stage includes the publication of information on a website for citizens seek knowledge about procedures governing the delivery of different services. The second stage involves interactivity. Clients can download applications for receiving services. The third stage involves electronic delivery of documents. The fourth stage involves electronic delivery of services where more than one department may be involved in processing a service request or service.
Tell me more about each stage in the e-Governance model.
There are three main target groups in every e-Governance model, viz. government (G), citizens (C) and businesses (B). Abbreviations such as B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) are used to describe the interactions between the various groups.
There are three main target groups in every e-Governance model, viz. government (G), citizens (C) and businesses (B). Abbreviations such as B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) are used to describe the interactions between the various groups.
Information Phase
In the first phase, e-Governance means, a presence on the web, providing the public (G2C & G2B) with relevant information. The format of the early government websites is similar to that of a brochure or leaflet. The value to the public is that government information is publicly accessible; processes are described and become more transparent, which improves democracy and service. Internally (G2G) the government can also deliver static information with electronic means, such as the Internet.
In the first phase, e-Governance means, a presence on the web, providing the public (G2C & G2B) with relevant information. The format of the early government websites is similar to that of a brochure or leaflet. The value to the public is that government information is publicly accessible; processes are described and become more transparent, which improves democracy and service. Internally (G2G) the government can also deliver static information with electronic means, such as the Internet.
Interaction Phase
In the second phase, the interaction between government and the public (G2C & G2B) is stimulated with various applications. People can ask questions via e-mail, use search engines, and download forms and documents. These save time. In fact the complete intake of (simple) applications can be done online 24 hours per day. Normally this would only have been possible at a counter during opening hours. Internally (G2G) government organisations use LANs, intranets and e-mail to communicate and exchange data.
In the second phase, the interaction between government and the public (G2C & G2B) is stimulated with various applications. People can ask questions via e-mail, use search engines, and download forms and documents. These save time. In fact the complete intake of (simple) applications can be done online 24 hours per day. Normally this would only have been possible at a counter during opening hours. Internally (G2G) government organisations use LANs, intranets and e-mail to communicate and exchange data.
Transaction Phase
With phase three, the complexity of the technology is increasing, but customer (G2C & G2B) value is also higher. Complete transactions can be done without going to an office. Examples of online services are filing tax, extending/renewal of licenses, visa and passports and online voting. Phase three is made complex because of security and personalisation issues. E.g. digital (electronic) signatures will be necessary to enable legal transfer of services. On the business side, the government is starting with e-procurement applications. In this phase, internal (G2G) processes have to be redesigned to provide good service. Government needs new laws and legislation to enable paperless transactions.
With phase three, the complexity of the technology is increasing, but customer (G2C & G2B) value is also higher. Complete transactions can be done without going to an office. Examples of online services are filing tax, extending/renewal of licenses, visa and passports and online voting. Phase three is made complex because of security and personalisation issues. E.g. digital (electronic) signatures will be necessary to enable legal transfer of services. On the business side, the government is starting with e-procurement applications. In this phase, internal (G2G) processes have to be redesigned to provide good service. Government needs new laws and legislation to enable paperless transactions.
Transformation Phase
The fourth phase is when all information systems are integrated and the public can get G2C & G2B services at one (virtual) counter. One single point of contact for all services is the ultimate goal. The complex aspect in reaching this goal is mainly on the internal side, e.g. the necessity to drastically change culture, processes and responsibilities within the government institution (G2G). Government employees in different departments have to work together in a smooth and seamless way. In this phase cost savings, efficiency and customer satisfaction are reaching highest possible levels.
The fourth phase is when all information systems are integrated and the public can get G2C & G2B services at one (virtual) counter. One single point of contact for all services is the ultimate goal. The complex aspect in reaching this goal is mainly on the internal side, e.g. the necessity to drastically change culture, processes and responsibilities within the government institution (G2G). Government employees in different departments have to work together in a smooth and seamless way. In this phase cost savings, efficiency and customer satisfaction are reaching highest possible levels.
by Madauda Hannah
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