E Goverance Chapter VI
E Goverance Chapter VI
E Goverance Chapter VI
Chapter VI
Performance Management
E-GOVERNMENT READINESS ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
E-government is neutral technology; the Internet became an important infrastructure
for government services. Online government followed the path of business services and private
transactions, which had discovered first the usefulness of the Internet as information
infrastructure. Beyond the Internet, other technologies and applications can be used for e-
government services, such as telephones (fixed or mobile), messaging systems (SMS or MMS),
fax, biometric identification, smart cards, radio-frequency ID (RFID) chips, as well as television
or radio-based government services used to provide disaster warnings, electronic newsletters,
education management systems and traffic control systems.
E-Government is often associated with government web portals because
most governments, national or local, have created web sites and umbrella portals, operating as
gateways and guidance to information and services. Some governments have moved forward by
introducing personalized e-government services that go beyond the provision of general
information to allow case sensitive interaction with the user.
The introduction of e-government applications has been beneficial to
governments in several ways. Most significantly, in the area of public procurement, electronic
applications have expanded government access to potential suppliers and increased the number
of offers received in a timely manner. e-Government applications also provide a valuable
development tool by increasing the effectiveness of aid provision and procurement.
One example is the Aid Management Platform (AMP), created by the
Development Gateway Foundation. This platform provides governments a virtual workspace
where state employees and donors can share aid information online, supporting planning,
execution and implementation activities.
The time and funds required to provide government services can be a
burden to citizens, businesses and to administrations, particularly for those in developing
countries and rural areas. By introducing e-government services, governments can dramatically
reduce transaction costs and improve internal planning mechanisms.
Moreover, the introduction of e-government and the integration of services
usually require governments to streamline their administrative processes. Streamlining improves
efficiency, reduces costs and generates savings, lowering the cost of government services.