Analysis of the eGovernment activities of selected states
On behalf of an international eGovernment company, the eGovernment activities in the federal states of Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg, Hessen and North Rhine-Westphalia were analyzed with regard to their stage of implementation and products in use. For the analysis the IfG.CC developed an evaluation framework which guarantees comparability.
Feasibility study "Digital Chamber of Industry and Commerce"
The objective of the feasibility study "Digital Chamber of Industry and Commerce", which was carried out on behalf of several different chambers of industry and commerce and their national association (DIHT), was to analyze possibilities to implement the digitalization of business processes in the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and to create a basis for the selection of processes. To produce a service catalog which is appropriate to eGovernment processes were investigated in different service areas of the Chamber of Industry and commerce. Their usage was measured and evaluated with regard to their suitability for electronic processing.
Euro Tax Online – Usability Analysis of Online Tax Services within the European Union: A User Perspective
On behalf of a European eGovernment company, the usability of online transaction systems in the area of taxes (income tax, company taxes, value added tax as well as social contributions) was analyzed in the states of the European Union.
Transfer of eGovernment – An Investigation Using the Example of Media@Komm-Transfer
This internal project was concerned with the question how the comprehensive and widespread penetration of eGovernment can be achieved. This was accomplished through an analysis of the activities within the initiative Media@Komm-Transfer initiative. The objective of this initiative, which was financed by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor from 2004 to 2006, was to support the transfer of innovative eGovernment solutions between local administrations.
Introduction of electronic workflow management systems in the public administration
This internal project was about how the introduction of workflow management systems in public administrations can be configured from an organizational perspective. To capture the complexity of the introduction process, an interdisciplinary approach was chosen which considered concepts from the engineering sciences, social sciences and in particular micro-political theories.
Expert Opinion on Broadband Use in Rural Areas
On behalf of a German county, the IfG.CC prepared a two-part expert opinion on the possibilities of the broadband usage in rural areas. While traditional fixed technologies typically result in high expenses for the provider due to the small number of inhabitants and users, new possibilities now exist through wireless technologies. In the first part of the opinion, different broad band technologies were evaluated with regard how these technologies are suitable for the use in rural areas. In the second part providers of suitable technologies were assessed and case studies conducted to identify operating models.
Portal Analysis of the www.egovernmentplattform.de Platform
IfG.CC extensively evaluated the internet platform of the d-NRW information office (www.egovernmentplattform.de) in this project. The evaluation contained an analysis of the content suitability, user-friendliness and users. On the basis of the evaluation, recommendations were made for changes and better adaptation to the target group.
Introduction of telepresence learning in schools in the state of Brandenburg
The goal of the project is to extend and to improve the teaching in schools in the state of Brandenburg through telepresence learning based upon video conference systems. The core of the project is a special form of telelearning, telepresence learning on the basis of broadband technologies. In telepresence learning, the teacher communicates at the same time (synchronously) and directly to the class or students using a video conference system.
Introduction of mobile citizen services in municipalities, cities and rural jurisdictions in the state of Brandenburg
The goal of the project is to implement a mobile citizen service first in the city of Potsdam and then to transfer these experiences in cooperation with the Brandenburg association of cities and municipalities to other (small) municipalities in the state of Brandenburg. Mobile citizen services make it possible to offer public services efficiently on site.
Project: Electronic Local Government (eLoGo)
Duration: January 2001-December 2003
Funding Organization: Brandenburg State Ministry of Science, Research and Culture
The project was carried out in cooperation with the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Potsdam and had two objectives:
- To set-up a application-oriented regional, and national/international research network
- Scientific support for and concomitant research during the introduction of eGovernment in the Potsdam-Mittelmark county
In addition to creating an eGovernment network for the state of Brandenburg, the following eGovernment projects were implemented within the scope of the project:
- Using eGovernment to enable cooperative method of the provision of services in the social services administration
- eGovernment in vehicle registration
- the development of certain IT components, including of the development of a forms portal for the municipalities and cities of the county
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Project: Met@logo: eGovernment and local economic promotion in Latin America
Duration: January 2004-August 2006
Funding Organization: European Union
The objective of the project was to develop eGovernment services which can support the process of decentralization, the development of local enterprises and technical development. The potentials of eGovernment were examined for the improvement of the local economic promotion. The project sought to lower administrative barriers to starting a business through innovative process design based upon eGovernment. Local governments in turn benefit from this process, because this increases the likelihood that businesses will settle or develop in the area and employment. Within the framework of this project, electronic services were implemented in 14 selected local governments in Honduras, Columbia, Chile and Peru.
The project was carried out in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) ("German Cooperation for Technical Assistance”), with the Vienna University of Technology, and with several universities and government authorities in Honduras, Columbia, Chile and Peru.
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Project: eGovernment potentials in Sub-Saharan Africa – Expert opinion on behalf of the German Bundestag
Duration: January 2006-December 2006
Funding Organization: German Bundestag
The IfG.CC produced two reports for the German Bundestag on the potential of eGovernment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
First expert opinion
In addition to the potentials of eGovernment in Sub-Saharan Africa, this opinion investigated the basic conditions necessary for its implementation. The state of eGovernment development in four African countries (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda) was examined in detailed case studies and more than 20 interviews with employees of national and international developing organizations were carried out.
The second expert opinion
The second report examined the current relevance of eGovernment issues to German and international development organizations. One result was that eGovernment is becoming increasingly important in international donor organizations, for example the World Bank. But countries as Canada or the Netherlands not only address the subject in their development work, but also invest in applied research into the application of ICT in developing countries.
EGovernment has an indisputably high developmental potential. However, the subject is considered by German developing organizations – with a few exceptions – to be rather marginal.
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Project: "Rural eGov”: Training SMEs of Rural Areas on Using eGovernment Services
Duration: October 2006-October 2008
Funding Organization: European Commission, Leonardo da Vinci Program
The Leonardo da Vinci EU project "Rural eGov" aims to analyze the needs of small and middle enterprises (SME) in rural area regarding eGovernment services, so as to improve their use. In addition to German organizations, partners from Greece, Great Britain, Poland and Slovenia are involved in the project. The IfG.CC is primary responsible for the analysis of the needs of the target group as well as for the investigation of the relevant qualification needs. Another responsibility includes the provision of relevant training material for the target group to improve the use of e-services. In the project, the IfG.CC developed a survey method to evaluate the needs of SMEs in rural areas. On the basis of the survey results, requirements for training modules were developed and tested with the target group. At the end of the project, recommendations were compiled for EU authorities and national administrations, so that services can be made more appropriate to the needs of SMEs in rural areas.
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Project: Scientific Controlling of eGovernment projects in North Rhine Westphalia
Duration: December 2006-December 2007
Funding Organization: Informationsbüro D-NRW
The objective of the project was to conceive and implement new service structures based upon of electronic networks for a pilot or model region within specific administrative conditions in North Rhine-Westphalia. The main focus of the new service structures is the joint use of data, information and basic IT-functions, for example in document management systems or content management systems. Another base project component is the joint reorganization of business processes with regard to integrated and convenient local access to public services. Integrated multi-level and multi-organizational citizens’ service centers can play an important role in such efforts. The IfG.CC’s role in this project was the scientific monitoring of the implementation of networked service structures, in particular in the model regions. This should help to ensure the transfer of such solutions to other regions. Scientific monitoring also includes providing scientific support related to specific aspects of the project as well as the direct support of project management.
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Project: Reorganization of the public administration with industrialization and bundling potentials
Duration: August 2007-April 2008
Funding Organization: ISPRAT Institute
The goal of this project was to determine to what extent new forms of the bundling of public services are possible through eGovernment. The catchword shared services has recently gained the attention of public administration, often raising high expectations.
The project critically examined, to what extent shared service centers come into consideration in the reorganization of the public administration and which consequences shared services hold for governance structures. Shared service centers are largely independent organizational units which produce services, for example in the area of the personnel management or travel expenses for several internal customers. In addition to developments in Germany, examples of cases from Great Britain and Austria were also examined. A partial project was a detailed case study which investigated the development of shared service centers in the field of geographic data.
The project was executed in cooperation with the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin.
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Project: Scientific Controlling of the Implementation of Shared Service Centers at local level in North Rhine Westphalia
Duration: since January 2008
Funding Organization: Informationsbüro dNRW
The objective of this project is to set up local shared service centers in North Rhine-Westphalia in which particular support processes are bundled in independent centres. A total of four projects will be implemented:
- Establishment of an inter-governmental local finance center (for the municipalities Nottuln and Havixbecke) which acts as a jointly-used independent shared service center and from which other municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia can purchase their accounting services.
- Establishment of a human resources service center (Warendorf County and affiliated municipalities), in which certain services, for example time files or personnel files, sick leave reports and vacation reports, promotions etc. will be bundled for the county administration and the local administration. Personnel decisions will continue to be made on-site.
- Establishment of a shared service centre for the electronic processing of mail (County Soest) which jointly processes incoming mail and outgoing mail for several municipalities using ICT.
- Establishment a technical citizens service center for the region Nordlippe (including the City of Barntrup and the municipalities Dörentrup, Extertal and Kalletal), which bundles certain services for the citizens using new ICT.
- Conducting a feasibility study on broadband in a rural county
- Implementing citizens’ one stop shops in county administration
- Orchestration and implementation of different (electronic) access options in rural areas, such as kiosk systems and mobile government services
- Feasibility studies on the design and implementation of distance learning solutions in rural areas to keep small schools running efficiently.