Most local authorities know that e-government is important but few officers and elected members actually have the necessary skills and understanding to push forward their aims, according to a Whitehall report. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s survey of English councils to be published in May 2003 finds that while 97% have a senior officer to lead e-government efforts almost three quarters report that their staff “lack sufficient skills and understanding in relation to e-government”.
Officials fare worse than elected representatives, with 69% of councils identifying skills gaps among officers while 51% say that members have poor e-government skills.
Also lacking are the broader business skills often associated with e-government. Over 80% of councils think their officers don’t have “change management” and “process reengineering” skills.
Councils are attempting to provide training with 94% helping their officers and 79% supporting members, but this is done on an “ad hoc basis” the report says.
The report also says there is a “mixed picture” of how effectively councils are implementing e-government. It says that while most (80%) manage and identify risk with e-government projects only 20% have worked out the costs and benefits of their overall programme.
Quelle: Kablenet
