E-governance is more than just a government website on the Internet. The strategic objective of e-governance is to support and simplify governance for all parties; government, citizens and businesses. The use of ICTs can connect all three parties and support processes and activities. In other words, in e-governance electronic means support and stimulate good governance.
Providing user-centered services and cutting red tape (i.e. unnecessary administrative burden), requires that information is shared across departments and different levels of government (e.g. between the local and national level). More often than not this implies organizational change. It requires willingness to re-think established ways of working. This often leads to resistance. Moreover, e-Government is not free. The pay-off often takes time.
The situation is entirely in line with narrowly defined strategies, according to which most countries launch e-services along the ‘quick fix, quick wins’ principle and rapidly construct the electronic equivalent of a traditional, bureaucratic administration, while continued development require above all reengineering of back-office processes. Researches are warning that most of the potential for e-government would be squandered if we were to continue developing web applications that function merely as a facade to cover over internal chaos. The back-office requires just as much attention as the front-office in the development of e-government, and the two areas should be developed in tandem.
An effective e-government program requires successful and seamless integration of appropriate ICT, quality information, engaged public employees, good administrative processes, and government leadership.
Information technology has become one of the core elements of managerial reform, and electronic government (e-government) may figure prominently in future governance.
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