Papers in Current Issue


Editorial Comment - will be posted shortly Dr Frank Bannister Editor, EJEG

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The Contribution of Sociotechnical Systems Thinking to the Effective Adoption of e-Government and the Enhancement of Democracy (pp1-12) Leela Damodaran¹, John Nicholls², Alan Henney³, Frank Land⁴ and Barbara Farbey^{5 1}Department of Information Science, Loughborough University, UK²Wolfson College, Oxford, UK³Woodhaw Consulting Ltd., Cheadle Hulme, UK.⁴Department of Information Systems, London School of Economics, UK ⁵Department of Computer Science, University College London, UK l.damodaran@lboro.ac.uk, john.nicholls@comlab.ox.ac.uk, alan.henney@ntlworld.com, f.land@lse.ac.uk, bfarbey@farbeys.u-net.com Abstract: This paper reports a study which reviewed the literature and explored the approaches adopted by a small sample of local government bodies engaged in implementing e-Government. The findings suggest that the e-Government implementation process underway in the UK does not embody the principles of widening democracy and increasing social inclusion. The empirical data reveal limited citizen engagement the design, development or implementation process. The paper discusses the potential contribution to be made by adopting a sociotechnical systems approach in which citizens engage with IT professionals and information/service providers to identify needs, to test options and to achieve shared goals of e-Government. Keywords: Implementation of e-Government; Sociotechnical systems; vision of e-Government
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An Exploratory Evaluation of UK Local e-Government From an Accountability Perspective (pp13-28) Dave Griffin and Eddie Halpin School of Information Management, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK d.griffin@leedsmet.ac.uk e.halpin@leedsmet.ac.uk Abstract: This paper provides an initial exploration of the relationship between electronic service delivery and public accountability. Specifically, it investigates public accountability for the implementation of electronic local government. Based on empirical research with council officers and elected members, it proposes a initial evaluation framework for local e-Government accountability. It examines the practice of e-Government accountability using this framework. Keywords: e-Government, evaluation, public accountability, local government, scrutiny
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Balanced Scorecard Based Management Information System – A Potential for Public Monitoring and Good Governance Advancement (pp29-38) Ivaylo Gueorguiev¹, Snezhana Dimitrova², Milena Komitska³, Hristo Traykov⁴ and Kamen Spassov⁵ ¹Project Manager, ESI Center Bulgaria ²Head, State Administration Department ³Developer, Information Services Plc. ⁴Senior Research Fellow, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences ⁵Coordinator Coordination Center for Information Communication and Management Technologies ¹ivo@esicenter.bg ²s.dimitrova@government.bg ³ m.komitska@-is-bg.net ⁴traykoffch@cc.bas.bg ⁵kspassov@ccit.government.bg Related Web Sites MIS/BSC Web Access Point: http://obs.is-bg.net “The ability to execute strategy is more important than the strategy itself” R. Kaplan & D. Norton Abstract: The Coordination Center for Information Communication and Management Technologies, Information Services PLC and the State Administration Directorate at the Council of Ministers developed a pilot web-based Management Information System using the Balanced Scorecard methodology. Authors share their experience gained during the implementation of MIS for Bulgarian e-Government Strategy. MIS provides monitoring of 42 key indicators in 17 ministries. It is designed to be extended to cover the modernization of the state administration. Keywords: e-Government, Balanced Scorecard, Good Governance, Strategy, Modernization, Public Administration
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e-Participation and Governance: Widening the net (pp 39-48) Lee Komito University College Dublin lee.komito@ucd.ie Abstract: As a solution to declining political and civic participation, many governments are seeking to increase the number of citizens who participate in policy-making and governance. Contrary to early expectations, recent research suggests that new information and communications technologies (ICTs) may not increase participation rates in formal organisations, and so may not improve participation rates. The Mobhaile project in Ireland is an example of a local government initiative which combines service provision (‘e-government’) functions and facilities for voluntary, community and business organisations that enhance social capital in local communities, while also enabling civic participation functions (‘e-governance’), in a single web-based geographical interface. Such projects enable citizens to access government services and encourages them, as part of this process, to also participate in local activities that build social capital in the community. The resulting mix can be an effective basis for greater political and civic participation. Keywords: eInclusion; eParticipation; community politics; Ireland; governance; social capital
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Impacts of Internet use on Public Administration: A Case Study of the Brazilian Tax Administration (pp49-58) Maria Virginia de Vasconcellos¹,² and Maria das Graças Rua² ¹Federal Data Processing Service SERPRO, Ministry of Finance, Brazil ²Sustainable Development Center - CDS, Federal University of Brasília virginia.vasconcellos@serpro.gov.br http://www.serpro.gov.br mgracasrua@uol.com.br http://www.unbcds.pro.br/ Abstract: This paper seeks to identify the effects of Internet used as a vehicle for sending federal tax returns through the RECEITANET program. The benefits that came out from security and costs reduction in the process of delivering tax returns are identified, as well as the impacts on Tax Administration (TA)[i] and on the Treasury-Taxpayer relationship. Keywords: E-Government, G2C-Government to Citizen service, E-public service, IT application in Tax Administration, Transmitting Tax returns via Internet, Treasury-Taxpayer relationship, IT Evaluation.
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