IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

• Process reform
• Leadership
• Strategic investment
• Collaboration
• Civic engagement

Moreover, government must develop a citizen centric model that involves key stakeholders outside of government - businesses, trade associations, scientists, academics and NGOs. Without their input, e-Government projects are unlikely to succeed, because citizens will not use a system that does not respond to their needs. Once a consensus has been reached, leaders must fully communicate the vision to the public.

• Process reform: Critical to the success of e-government transformation is the understanding that e-government is not just about the automation of existing process and inefficiencies. Rather, it is about the creation of new processes and new relationships between the citizens and the government. Therefore, government leaders planning e-government projects should first examine the function or operation to which they want to apply ICT. For example, governments should use ICT to bring transparency in procurement, officials and companies that do business with the government should first examine the entire process by which the government publishes solicitations and qualifies bidders and the requirements for filing bids. Recommendations on process reform arc given below:
  • Plan carefully-streamline and consolidate offline processes before putting them online.
  • Inefficiencies/bottlenecks need to be identified and eliminated. Process should be re- engineered and then should be automated.
  • Respond to local needs - draw on the ideas of those who will use the system and enlist their support.
  • Try to focus projects from the user perspective.
  • Dispel resistance of civil servants by training and incentives to support reform.
  • Ensure commitment of resources for the long term.

• Leadership: In order to achieve the e-government transformation, elected officials and administrators are needed at all levels of government who understand the technology and the policy goals and who will push reform. Strong leadership can ensure the long-term commitment of resources and expertise and the cooperation of disparate factions. Leadership can also articulate a unifying theme that can propel the e-government initiative through all the necessary steps. Recommendations on process reform are given below:
  • Designate a senior official as a focal point for e-government innovation, planning and oversight.
  • Ministerial support for the initiative to ensure that all relevant departments and agencies support it.

• Strategic investment: Government of Bangladesh must choose projects carefully in order to optimise their investment of time and resources. Projects should have clear value in terms of enhancing transparency, increasing citizen participation in the governance process, cutting bureaucratic red tape, or saving money. Standards and benchmarks must be established to measure the relative success of these projects. Recommendations on process reform are given below:
  • Define clear goals.
  • Catalogue available resources, ranging from funding to personnel.
  • Make short and long-terms plans, with expected expenditures, income streams and deadlines.
  • Designate an officer or organising body that will oversee planning and budgets.
  • Consider multi-technology approaches. Some communities may not be ready for the Internet, but other technologies like radio may better serve their needs. Communication can also be done through TV Channel,. Press Media, e-Forum, Teleconferencing etc.
  • Consultations with local communities will help ensure that they benefit from technology.

• Collaboration/ Coordination/ Cooperation: Collaboration among government entities, private enterprises and NGOs can assist policymakers in crafting meaningful reforms and can expedite the implementation of e-government. Private sector experts, who deeply understand topics such as e-commerce, information technology, marketing, and management, can advise government policymakers.

  The private sector may have considerable expertise that can help meet the challenges of increasing efficiency, capacity, and "consumer" (that is, citizen) satisfaction. Recommendations on process reform are given below:

  • In the planning phase, establish a consultative process that includes opportunities to hear from and speak with business, NGO's and other government agencies. Explain the goals of the e-government initiative and solicit suggestions.
  • Citizen Consultative Committee & Ministries Consultative Committee can be formed to exchange information & views on the direction of the Govt. IT strategy, opportunities, to identify key issues with IT service delivery and to advise strategic policy transformation in an integrated manner.
  • Take private sector advice and experience into account when designing systems. Respond to identified needs.
  • Create incentives for the private sector to become active participants in reform.
  • Encourage cooperation and integration between departments/ministries of government.
  • Local champions will help projects succeed. To decrease skepticism in local communities, directly involve local leaders by making them representatives, and by teaching them IT skills they can pass on to their communities.
  • Create local ownership. In conjunction with the establishment of a local management committee or body, handover of e-government projects should occur as soon as possible.

• Civic engagement: The concept of e-government revolves around the citizen. E-government is not just a cost cutting or efficiency initiative, but rather is directed at bettering the lives of ordinary people. In order to develop this citizen-focused vision, policymakers must keep the ordinary citizen in mind when designing systems. If at all possible, policy makers and designers should encourage stakeholders both government and non-government to participate in defining what their shared vision of e-government should accomplish. And once that vision is clearly defined, leaders must communicate it across all sectors, not just to those who will implement it. Recommendations on process reform are given below:
  • Consult widely in designing systems.
  • Design applications that are focused on the citizen.
  • Combine e-government with legal reform efforts such as requiring public notice and comment in legislative and regulatory processes.
  • Keep in mind differences in local culture when seeking to engage citizens.
  • Design engagement opportunities that build on successful models.

Autor(en)/Author(s): SICT Studay

Quelle/Source: The New Nation, 19.08.2006