E-Government is the Future of Democracy and Governance

E-Government is in principle nothing new. The				reform public administration known as New Public
Internet is primarily a communications medium,				Management, has for good reason generated a
not a space to do things, other than buy the odd				new wave of interest in the topic.
book, CD or bottle of wine. And yet there are				The implications of IT for the future of
hundreds of projects up and down the country,				government are as yet dimly perceived,
online communities, pressure groups and learning				notwithstanding a stream of speculation and
centres where e-Government is happening.				informed commentary on the future of
E-Government might enable a citizen to access				democracy and governance.
the form they need to fill out to order a copy of				Where then have e-Government benefits already
their birth certificate without needing to know that				been felt by the public? The sharing of information
the Health Department handles the request. Other				between services, and making it available to
services that citizens want online include renewing				front-line staff in call centres and one stop shops
a driver's license, voting on the Internet, filing				makes one think that, to date, the main benefits
taxes, and obtaining park information.				felt by the public have been indirect, rather than
Governments were among the first users of				direct.
computers. But the global proliferation of the				Finally an e-government key factor... is the
Internet, which effectively integrates information				implementation phase. Usually governments
and communications technology on the basis of				underestimate this phase focusing instead mostly
open standards, combined with the movement to				on design and development.