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ENABLING E-GOVERNMENT
THROUGH THE MODERN WEB
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Using technology to take government to people has
massive opportunities, but government must look at its
implementation of e-government holistically.
 Web
2.0 and other new technologies offer significant opportunities
for e-government. The social nature of modern online tools and
services make them intrinsically aligned to use in connecting
people with their government. Speaking at SITA's GovTech 2009
conference, Dr Alan Shark, executive director and CEO of the
Public Technology Institute in Washington DC said that social
media and other Web 2.0 tools are evolving to become
increasingly useful for governments.
At the heart of e-government, said Shark, should lay
well-defined intentions.
"We’ve learned what people are doing and, in some cases, how
they are doing it. But, we don't always know why they are doing
it and who is actually doing it, which is also important," he
noted.
Shark said that e-government has advantages such as allowing
government offices to be open for business 24 hours a day. It
also enables faster transactions, has no queues and ultimately
saves governments money. Moreover, it allows for services to be
provided in multiple languages with relative ease.
However, the most effective e-government tools are created with
firm strategy.
"It's not as much about technology as it is about leadership and
how leadership uses these tools to enable its services," said
Shark.
He pointed out that e-government requires reliable and
affordable broadband connectivity, and the ability to accept
online credit or debit card transactions. It also requires
computer literacy, trained and dedicated staff, financial
support and a sound business plan.
In delivering e-government, Shark said that authorities must pay
attention to the role they play and how they conduct discussions
with the public they serve.
"Politicians too often tell people what they want to hear,
whereas diplomats artfully word issues in a way that gets things
done," explained Shark.
He said that services must be equitable, not only accessible and
beneficial to a limited segment of a country’s population.
Turning to trends in Web technology, Shark said that we
currently find ourselves in-between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0. He
describes this phase as being Web 2.5.
"Marc Benioff is chairman and CEO of salesforce.com - an online
application in use by many local governments," stated Shark.
"He says that with Web 1.0 anyone could transact online. Now
with Web 2.0 anyone can participate - but with Web 3.0 anyone
will be able to innovate," he explained.
Shark said that Web 2.5 technologies enable citizens to become
participants in e-government by not only consuming information,
but sharing information themselves; alerting each other of
danger and enriching online systems with different forms of
information, such as photographs, video and information.
He suggested that local governments should consider offsetting
the costs of e-government with advertising sold on Web
platforms. They should also look to public private partnerships
in creating free portals that utilise existing services that
citizens use, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
Shark said that information centres must be established in
places like libraries and other publically accessible areas, so
that people without their own computers and Internet connections
can make use of them.
By embracing new Web technologies, both national and local
governments can create effective online e-government solutions
that are affordable and will enable citizens to both transact
with government and supplement e-government systems.
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