In
general, e-Government refers to provisioning of public services through the use
of electronic means (usually using internet). Therefore, the e-Government
initiatives deal with putting in place an electronic infrastructure (like for
instance - means of connectivity, supporting platforms, innovative applications
and robust databases), making amendments to government processes, norms and
legalities to incorporate electronic delivery of services in best possible way
and lastly ensuring adaption of e-Government practices at all levels within
government bodies.
E-Governance
refers to the leveraging the electronic technologies (particularly e-Government
infrastructure) for providing good governance to citizens. The e-Governance
initiatives usually deals with aspects related to improving decision making,
putting up improved controls, ensuring suitable checks and balances and
increasing participation of masses in governance.
The objective
of e-Governance is to utilize the e-Government infrastructure for
administrative and institutional reforms with the intent of enhancing democratic
values. The exercise to meet this objective is a complex process of state
transformation. This transformation may require governments to re-adjust, accommodate
and absorb new dimensions in the interest of making the state much more just
and fair for its citizens.
1.
Developing
a Culture of Data Driven Decision Making
In the
time to come, promises and limits of ‘data driven decision making’ will be put
to test. In my opinion, establishing Single Version
of Truth for Data will be a big challenge for success of e-Governance. Taking
into account, the volume and diversity associated with the machinery of
government (especially in a country like India), capturing relevant and
diagnostic data is a herculean task.
Developing
a culture of data driven decision making will help governments in policy
making, regulatory functions and in service delivery. It is widely believed
that robust data capture will help in minimizing influence of general bias and
personal whims in governance.
Open
Government Directive, USA (December, 2009) and Government
Digital Strategy, UK (December, 2013) stress on importance of quality of data
and importance of data driven decision making.
2.
Developing
a Culture of Feedback Driven Continuous Service Improvement
The
true test of success of any service can be done through feedback from end users
(beneficiaries in case of government services). Electronic medium has made it
possible to capture feedback from huge number of beneficiaries through
different medium (for example, Voice Recording, Online Forms, Complains and
Suggestions in text format) and to interpret responses at significantly low
cost. Considering possibility of deployment of feedback driven continuous
improvement can be contemplated. This will require developing techniques for
measuring quality of (rendered) services through direct interaction with beneficiaries.
This will be followed by developing a mechanism of interpreting the feedback obtained
through interactions (with beneficiaries) and exploring possibilities of
improvement of government services.
It is
observed that assessment of results based on quantified and measurable output improves
management of services. Therefore, building a culture of feedback driven
continuous improvement will eventually help in increasing efficiency of government.
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Definitions of e-Government (source
Wikipedia)
E-Gov
Strategies (or Digital Government) is defined
as "The employment of the Internet and the world-wide-web for delivering
government information and services to the citizens." (United Nations,
2006; AOEMA, 2005).[2]
Electronic
Government (or e-Government) essentially
refers to "The utilization of Information Technology (IT), Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT s), and other web-based telecommunication
technologies to improve and/or enhance on the efficiency and effectiveness of
service delivery in the public sector.".[1]
Definitions of e-Governance (source arc.gov.in)
Although
the term ‘e-Governance’ has gained currency in recent years, there is no standard
definition of this term. Different governments and organizations define this
term to suit their own aims and objectives. Sometimes, the term ‘e-government’
is also used instead of ‘e-Governance’. Some widely used definitions are listed
below:
i. According to the World Bank
“E-Government
refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as
Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability
to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.
These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of
government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and
industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient
government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased
transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions.”
Thus,
the stress here is on use of information technologies in improving citizen-government
interactions, cost-cutting and generation of revenue and transparency.
ii. UNESCO defines e-Governance as:
“Governance
refers to the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the
management of a country’s affairs, including citizens’ articulation of their
interests and exercise of their legal rights and obligations. E-Governance may
be understood as the performance of this governance via the electronic medium
in order to facilitate an efficient, speedy and transparent process of
disseminating information to the public, and other agencies, and for performing
government administration activities.”
This
definition visualizes the use of the electronic medium in the exercise of authority
in the management of a country’s affairs along with articulation of citizens’
interests leading to greater transparency and efficiency.
iii. The Council of Europe has taken
e-Governance to mean:
“the
use of electronic technologies in three areas of public action:
·
relations between the public authorities and civil society
·
functioning of the public authorities at all stages of the
democratic process (electronic democracy)
·
the provision of public services (electronic public services)”
In this
case, the focus is on making use of electronic technologies with a view to
encourage better interaction between government and citizens, promote democracy
and provide public services.
iv. The US E-Government Act of 2002 defines
“electronic Government” to mean (Section 3601):
“the
use by the Government of web-based Internet applications and other information
technologies, combined with processes that implement these technologies, to-
(A)
enhance the access to and delivery of Government information and services to
the public, other agencies, and other Government entities; or
(B) bring about improvements in Government
operations that may include effectiveness, efficiency, service quality, or
transformation”.
This
definition reflects the strategy of the US Government regarding the use of ICT
in improving Government operations on the one hand and enhancing the access and
delivery of information and services to citizens and government entities on the
other.
Source:
