Improving Technology Utilization in Electronic Government around the World, 2008
Source: The Brookings Institution

Few developments have had broader consequences for the public sector than the introduction of the Internet and digital technology. Electronic government offers the promise of utilizing technology to improve public sector performance as well as employing new advances for democracy itself. In its boldest formulation, technology is seen as a tool for long-term system transformation.

Unlike traditional bricks and mortar agencies, digital delivery systems are non-hierarchical, non-linear, interactive and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The non-hierarchical character of Internet delivery permits people to look for information at their own convenience. The interactive aspects of e-government allow both citizens and bureaucrats to send as well as receive information.

Given the fundamental nature of these advantages, some predict the Internet will transform government. Many have welcomed electronic governance as a way to improve service delivery and responsiveness to citizens. “Electronic government will not only break down boundaries and reduce transaction costs between citizens and their governments but between levels of government as well,” states Stephen Goldsmith, President George W. Bush’s former Special Advisor for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Jeffrey Seifert and Matthew Bonham argue digital government has the potential to transform governmental efficiency, transparency, citizen trust and political participation in transitional democracies.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 8:07 am and is filed under Government and politics, International, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.