E-Government, the Citizen and Equity
Maddalena Sorrentino
Mike Cushman2005
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Abstract
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The paper explores the transformative potential of e-Government and e-Democracy initiatives across various countries, emphasizing their implications on democratic processes and citizen engagement. It highlights the importance of methodological guidelines for successful implementation, the role of technology in facilitating communication between citizens and government, and the critical issue of equitable access to e-Government services, particularly in relation to the socio-economic barriers faced by marginalized communities. By examining case studies and ongoing research, the paper aims to address whether the shift towards digital governance will contribute to reducing social exclusion or, conversely, exacerbate existing disparities.
Key takeaways
- The panel sets out to explore a number of issues relating the e-Government and e-Democracy initiatives:
- e-Government and e-Democracy can only be successful if the citizen knows what is going on, understands the reasons why, and shares in the perception that they are desirable.
- It is not at all clear to what extent citizens accept e-Government or want to participate in its design or realisation.
- The panel will provide some of the elements of such an interdisciplinary approach and include at least one panelist engaged in the process of gaining public confidence and citizen participation as a e-Government champion.
- A realistic approach to the effective implementation of E-Government initiatives requires the adoption of a series of methodological guidelines: a) an approach to knowledge that conceives of it not just as knowledge management but knowledge in use; b) the perception of E-Government as not just a project but also a process; c) a recognition of the intensively interactive nature of E-Government initiatives; and d) an acceptance that E-Government initiatives are constituted by complex, collective experiences that have been referred to with the metaphor, garbage can.
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Workshop proceedings: User involvement and representation in e-Government projects
Workshop program The program contains two single track plenary sessions and two group sessions. All paper presenters will be allowed a timeslot of maximum 15 minutes. During each presentation, each workshop participant notes up to three questions or comments on post-IT notes. The notes will be used for structured discussions in the following group sessions. 0930-0945 Introduction and presentation 0945-1030 First plenary session A: The big picture: User involvement and User-centred design in the development process Arild Jansen: Strategies for user involvement in e-Government projects: What can be learned from the Scandinavian IS tradition. Henrik Artman/Fredrik Andersson: Communicating the Future business: A procurement organization's understanding of their role in systems development. Stefan Holmlid/Ann Lantz: Developing e-services in an authority: Different views on design in procurement and system development. 1030-1045 Coffee 1045-1130 First plenary session-continued B: Obstacles to e-Government service development and use Jan Gulliksen/Elina Eriksson: Understanding and developing user involvement at a public authority. Arne Krokan/Solveig Midtbust: Why don't they automate? Asbjørn Følstad/Petter Bae Brandtzaeg: When local usability is not the issue: An example case of e-Government service provision. 1130-1245 First group session. Group A: Discussion based on plenary session "The bigger picture".
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