Probably the best way to simplify the definition of e-government is this: “Any use of information and technology that empowers citizens, improves the way government works, improves the connection and communication between governments and civil society can be considered as part of e-government.” This is according to Sharon Dawes, a senior fellow at the US-based Center for Technology in Government.
Corruption and inefficiencies in existing policies and procedures within government structures today have led to a great divide in trust between governments and their citizens. A gap that is so big, it seems a mission impossible to close it. Therefore, it seems quite conceivable that the only salvation to improve, if not completely solve, this huge task is with technology, specifically launching full-fledged e-governments.
The devil however lies in the proper implementation of such an important undertaking. Developing new technologies, whether in the public or the private sector, requires a high skilled cadre. As e-government is an enormous field, it requires some very skilled workforce, as well as legislation, business processes and the latest advanced technologies. Basically skilled expertise is a full requirement and the governments, which in this case will directly head on competing with the private sector, need to hire the required rare talent. The private sector usually always ends up winning as they pay two or three times more than the public sector.
Then there is another greater dilemma which is basically a huge brain drain. There is a lot of great talent leaving the Middle East to take better offers and greater quality of life in North America, Europe, Asia and the new world in South America, Australia and New Zealand.
The region still lags behind the industrial countries and even developing markets in efficiencies and citizens’ satisfaction. There are some promising outcomes coming from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain but much more work needs to be done still.
Jordan recently has made it a strategic and national goal to become the Middle East’s information, communication and technology hub but in order to achieve this they must have a completely transformed e-government.
E-government in the Middle East will serve much more and then simply be a tool to create better efficiency. It restores faith in better governments and that is greatly needed.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Hussein Shobokshi
Quelle/Source: Saudi Gazette, 01.07.2013
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