E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 14

UNIT 2 E-GOVERNANCE: CONCEPT AND

SIGNIFICANCE
Structure

2.0 Objectives

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Concept of E‐governance

2.3 Models of E‐governance

2.4 Significance of E‐governance

2.5 Enabling a Compatible Environment for E-Governance Implementation in Public

Organizations

2.6 Conclusion

2.7 References and Further Readings

2.0 OBJECTIVES

After studying this Unit, you should be able to:

 discuss the concept and significance of e-governance;

 explain the various models of e-governance; and

 highlight the various roles of ICT in governance.

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Reinventing government has been a dominant theme since 1990s, wherein governments world

over are attempting to improve the systems of public service delivery. Rapid strides made in the
E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 15

field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have facilitated the reinvention of

governments and prepared them to serve the needs of a diverse society. In other words, the

information age has redefined the fundamentals and transformed the institutions and mechanisms

of service delivery forever. The vision is the articulation of a desire to transform the way government

functions and the way it relates to its constituents. The concept of electronic governance, popularly

called e-governance, is derived from this concern. Democracies in the world share a vision of the

day when e-governance will become a way of life.

India has been at the forefront of the IT revolution and has had its effect on the public administration

systems, as we would see later in this Unit. In fact, if the potential of ICTs are harnessed properly,

it has a lot of opportunities, especially, in the social and economic growth of the developing

world.

2.2 CONCEPT OF E-GOVERNANCE

E-governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government functioning for good

governance. In other words, e-governance is the public sector’s use of ICTs with the aim to

improve information and service delivery, encourage citizen participation in decision-making and

make government more accountable, transparent and efficient.

The Ministry of Information and Technology states that e-governance goes far beyond mere

computerisation of stand alone back office operations. It implies fundamental changes in

government operations; and new set of responsibilities for the legislature, executive, judiciary

and citizens.

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General, UK, e-governance means providing public

access to information via the internet by government departments and their agencies.

So in essence, e-governance is the application of ICT in government functioning to bring in

SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 16

governance.

Simple- meaning simplification of rules, regulations and

processes of government through the use of ICTs and

thereby providing for a user-friendly government

Moral- connoting emergence of an entirely new system

of ethical values in the political and administrative machinery.

Technology interventions improve the efficiency of anti-

corruption agencies, police, judiciary, etc.

Accountable-facilitating design, development and

SMART GOVERNANCE implementation of effective Management Information

System and performance measurement mechanisms and

thereby ensuring accountability of public service

functionaries.

Responsive- streamlining the processes to speed up

service delivery and make system more responsive.

Transparent-bringing information hitherto confined in the

government documents to the public domain and making

processes and functions transparent, which in turn would

bring equity and rule of law in responses of the

administrative agencies.

SMART governance, thus, helps in:

 improving the internal organisational processes of governments;

 providing better information and service delivery;

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 17

 increasing government transparency in order to reduce corruption;

 reinforcing political credibility and accountability; and

 promoting democratic practices through public participation and consultation.

E-governance and E-government

E-governance and e-government are often used interchangeably, so distinguishing between them at this stage is

imperative. According to Thomas B. Riley government and governance are both about getting the consent

and cooperation of the governed. But whereas government is the formal apparatus for this objective,

governance is the outcome as experienced by those on the receiving end…. E-government can be more

productive version of government in general, if it is well implemented and managed. E-governance can evolve

into participatory governance, if it is well supported with appropriate principles, objectives, programmes and

architectures.

E-government is, thus, the modernisation of processes and functions of government using the tools of ICT as

to transform the way it serves its constituents. As per the World Bank, e-government refers to the use by

government agencies of information technologies (such as wide area networks, internet and mobile computing)

that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses and other arms of government. It is the use of

technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners

and employees. E-governance, on the other hand, goes beyond the service delivery aspects and is seen as a

decisional process. It is about the use of ICTs in the systems of governance, that is, using ICT to involve

multi-stakeholders in decision-making and in making governments open and accountable.

2.3 MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE

Prof. Dr. Arie Halachmi in his paper, namely, ‘ E-Government Theory and Practice: The Evidence from

Tennessee (USA),’ has given five important models of e-governance, which can be used as a guide in designing

e-government initiatives depending on the local situation and governance activities that are expected to be

performed. These models are:

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 18

 The Broadcasting Model

 The Critical Flow Model

 The Comparative Analysis Model

 The E-Advocacy/Mobilisation and Lobbying Model

 The Interactive-Service Model

We will now discuss these models individually.

 The Broadcasting Model

The model is based on dissemination/broadcasting of useful governance information, which is in the public

domain into the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media. The strength of the model rests

upon the fact that a more informed citizenry is better able to judge the functioning of existing

governance mechanisms and make an informed opinion about them. Consequently, they become more

empowered to exercise their rights and responsibilities. Widespread application of this model corrects

‘information failure situations’ by providing people with the relevant information relating to the governance

sphere to makeinformed opinion and impact governance processes.

Further, the uses of ICT opens an alternative channel for people to access information as well as validate existing

information from different sources.

 The Critical Flow Model

The model is based on disseminating/channeling information of critical value to the targeted audience or into

the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media.

The strength of this model is that ICT makes the concept of ‘distance’ and ‘time’ redundant when

information is hosted on a digital network, and this could be used advantageously by instantly transferring

the critical information to its strategic user group located anywhere or by making it freely available in the

wider public domain.

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 19

 The Comparative Analysis Model

This model is highly significant model for developing countries and can be used for empowering people.

Essentially, the model continuously assimilates best practices in the areas of governance and then

uses them as benchmarks to evaluate other governance practices. It then uses the result to advocate

positive changes or to influence ‘public’ opinion on these governance practices. The comparison could

be made over a time scale to get a snapshot of the past and present situation or could be used to

compare the effectiveness of an intervention by comparing two similar situations. The strength of this

model lie in the infinite capacity of digital networks to store varied information and retrieve and transmit it

instantly across all geographical and hierarchal barriers.

 The E-Advocacy/Mobilization and Lobbying Model

This model builds the momentum of real-world processes by adding the opinions and concerns

expressed by virtual communities. This model helps the global civil society to impact on global

decision-making processes. It is based on setting up a planned, directed flow of information to build

strong virtual allies to complement actions in the real world. Virtual communities are formed which

share similar values and concerns and these communities in turn link up with or support real-life

groups/activities for concerted action.

Hence, it creates a diversity of virtual community and the ideas, expertise and resources are accumulated

through this virtual form of networking. In addition, it is able to mobilize and leverage human resources and

information beyond geographical, institutional and bureaucraticbarriers and use it for concerted action.

 The Interactive-Service Model

It opens avenues for direct participation of individuals in governance processes and brings in greater

objectivity and transparency in decision-making processes through ICT. Fundamentally, ICT has

the potential to bring in every individual in a digital network and enable interactive (two-way) flows of

information among them.

Under this model, the various services offered by the Government become directly available to its citizens in
 E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 20

an interactive manner. It does so by opening up an interactive Government to Consumer to Government

(G2C2G) channel in various aspects of governance, such as election of government officials (e-ballots);

redressing online of specific grievances; sharing of concerns and providing expertise; opinion polls on

various issues; etc. (adapted from Prof. Dr.Arie Halachmi ‘E-Government Theory and Practice: The

Evidence from Tennessee, USA’).

After our discussion about the models of e-governance, we will now focus on the legal and policy

framework for the implementation of ICT and e-governance in the country.

AL

2.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF E-GOVERNANCE

ICT applications impact upon the structures of public administration systems. Technological advancements

facilitate the administrative systems by enabling:

 Administrative Development; and

 Effective Service Delivery

We will now discuss them individually.

Administrative Development

Administrative reforms, often, have focused on procedural details and restructuring of systems and

processes of government organisations. The basic objective of these reforms is to enhance capacities

of the systems. ICTs can be used and are being used now to give further impetus to the process.

They help in the following manners:

 Automation of Administrative Processes

A truly e-governed system would require minimal human intervention and would rather be

system driven. While initially the solutions that were offered were quite primitive with poor

information layout, inadequate navigation provisions, occasional disruption in services, periodic

outdated content and little or no ‘back office’ support. However, technological advancements and
E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 21

increased pressure from citizenry have prompted improvements in these areas. Now

administrative departments are computerised and connected through network. Software has been

built and designed around government departments ensuring efficiency in operations. The

departments have launched individual websites carrying information of their respective departments.

This has enabled online carrying of operations and file movements. Budgeting, accounting, data

flow, etc. has become easy. This has increased the efficiency of office operations and processes

and has reduced unnecessary delays.

 Paper Work Reduction

An immediate impact of automation would be on the paperwork. Paperwork is reduced to a greater extent

with communication being enabled via electronic route and storage and retrieval of information in the

electronic form. All this has led to emergence of ‘less paper office’. This concept is defined as an office

situation where all the information (file and mail) amongst various functionaries is distributed online. In the

words of Dubey, less paper office is the implementation of effective electronic communication processes that

enable elimination of reproductive works and unnecessary papers. The concept is where files and

mails (information) are transmitted over wires to small computers at each employee’s desk. Office work,

such as, file movements, notings, etc. is computerised and documentation, report preparation, databases

are now maintained in computers. Due to interconnectivity through LAN, transfer of information and files

take place online, thus reducing the physical movements and consumption and storage of huge piles of

paper.

 Quality of Services

ICT helps governments to deliver services to the citizens with greater accountability, responsiveness

and sensitivity. Quality of services improves, as now the people are able to get services efficiently and

instantaneously. As volumes of transactions and information can be electronically handled and delivered

over a wider area through the net and web, qualitative services become possible in least time, in least

cost, in least difficulty and in greaterconvenience.

By ensuring online redressal of grievances the accountability of officials is ensured. They have
E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 22

become sensitive to the issues affecting people. Monitoring by way of video teleconferencing has

further facilitated central monitoring, reporting and face to face communication that has assured

effective service delivery by the officials.

 Elimination of Hierarchy

ICT has reduced procedural delays caused by hierarchical processes in the organisation. Through

Intranet and LAN, it has become possible to send information and data across various levels in

the organisation at the same time. Computerisation and communication patterns facilitated by ICT

have increased efficiency and have led tothe involvement of all levels in decision-making.

 Change in Administrative Culture

Bureaucratic structures have been plagued by characteristics aptly described by Victor Thompson as

‘bureau-pathology’. From the days of New Public Administration, efforts have been made to find

ways to deal with the pathological or dysfunctional aspects of bureaucratic behaviour and to make

delivery of public services effective and efficient. With e-governance, public actions coming under public

glare would certainly induce norms and values of accountability, openness, integrity, fairness, equity,

responsibility and justice in the administrative culture. Rather, administration would become efficient and

responsive.

Effective Service Delivery

ICTs play an important role in effectively delivering services to the people. ICTs ensure:

 Transparency by dissemination and publication of information on the web. This provides easy access to

information and subsequently makes the system publicly accountable. Also as web enables free flow of

information, it can be easily accessed by all without anydiscrimination.

 Economic Development

The deployment of ICTs reduces the transaction costs, which makes services cheaper. For

example, rural areas suffer on account of lack of information regarding markets, products,
E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 23

agriculture, health, education, weather, etc. and if all this could be accessed online would lead to

better and more opportunities and thereby prosperity in these areas.

 Social Development

The access to information empowers the citizens. Informed citizenry can participate and voice their

concerns, which can be accommodated in the programme/ project formulation, implementation,

monitoring and service delivery. Web enabled participation will counter the discriminatory factors

affecting our societal behaviour.

 Strategic Information System

Changing organisational environment and increasing competitiveness have put pressures on the

performance of the functionaries. Information regarding all aspects need to be made available to the

management at every point to make routine as well as strategic decisions. ICTs effectively enable putting

such strategic information systems in place.

After the above-mentioned discussion on the significance of ICTs in governance, we will now highlight

the legal and policy framework for ICT and e-governance, as existing in India.

2.5 ENABLING A COMPATIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR E-GOVERNANCE

IMPLEMENTATION IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

As per the 2nd ARC, the following points are considered to be essential to make a compatible

environment for e-governance implementation in public organizations.

 Building a Congenial Environment

Providing political support at the highest level, incentivising e-governance, overcoming the resistance to

change within government, and creating awareness in the public with a view to generating a demand for

change will enable a congenial environment for ICT application in the organizations.

 Identification of e-Governance Projects and Prioritisation

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 24

Union and State Government levels need to identify e‐governance initiatives, which could be

undertaken within their functional domain, keeping the needs of the citizens in mind. Such initiatives,

which would provide timely and useful information to the citizens, would not require the creation of a

database for providing useful services to the citizens, allow for making elementary online transactions

including payment for services, require verification of information/data submitted online, and such

that require creation and integration of complex databases (Michael Hammer & James Champy).

 Business Process Re-engineering

For every function a government organisation performs and every service or information it is required to

provide, there should be a step-by-step analysis of each process to ensure its rationality and simplicity.

Such analysis should incorporate the viewpoints of all stakeholders, while maintaining the citizen-

centricity of the exercise. After identifying steps which are redundant or which require simplification,

and which are adaptable to e-Governance, the provisions of the law, rules, regulations, instructions,

codes, manuals etc. which form their basis should also be identified. Following this exercise,

governmental forms, processes and structures should be re-designed to make them adaptable to e-

Governance, backed by procedural, institutional and legal changes.

 Capacity Building and Creating Awareness

Capacity building efforts must attend to both the organizational capacity building, as also the

professional and skills upgradation of individuals associated with the implementation of e-governance

projects. Each government organization must conduct a capacity assessment, which should form the

basis for training their personnel. A network of training institutions needs to be created in the States with

the Administrative Training Institutes at the apex.

 Implementation
Implementation of e‐governance projects would involve a detailed ‘project management’ exercise,

which would consist of breaking up entire e‐governance projects into components/activities, planning
E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 25

each activity in detail, allocating resources, both human and financial; commencement of activities, as

per the plan and continuous tracking, and need‐based mid‐course correction.

 Monitoring and Evaluation

Once the e-governance project is implemented constant monitoring would be required to ensure that

each component is functioning, as per the design.

Evaluation of success or failure of e-governance projects may be done by independent agencies on the

basis of parameters fixed beforehand.

 Protection Strategy for Critical Information Infrastructure Assets

2.6 Conclusion

According to Traunmuller and Lenk, e-governance is a global phenomenon today and it is the most

recent paradigm in public administration. The speed and transparency associated with e-governance

has the potential to make public administration responsive and effective. As the development of e-

governance gets past the phase of pilot projects, it becomes apparent that sustainable development of

e-governance will depend on an adequate institutional framework that will enable public

administration to manage and harmonise the emerging multitude of technical and organisational

changes at all levels ofgovernment….

The time has come to focus on the challenges in implementation, especially those related to cross-level

applications and institutional framework, which would enable to bring in broaderchanges in governance.

ACTIVITY
1. Form a group and discuss in detail the provisions of the IT Act 2000 and Right toInformation
Act 2005.
2. Let us know about some scope wherein the Right to Information Act 2005 can be more effective.

2.7 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READINGS

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 26

 Annual Report, 2004-05, Department of Information Technology, Government of India

 Bhattacharya ,Mohit, 2018, New Horizons of Public Administration, 5th Revised Edition, Jawahar

Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi

 Cabinet Office, 1999, Modernising Government, Cm 4310, Stationery Office, London

 Chatillon, G., 2004, Electronic Government in France, in Martin Eifert and Jan Ole Puschel, (eds.), National

Electronic Government, Routledge, New York

 Comptroller and Auditor General, 2002, Better Public Services through E-Government, Report

submitted to House of Commons in Session 2001-02: 4 April 2002, The StationeryOffice, London

 Dror, Y., 1990, Democratic Reformcraft, Working Paper, European Institute of Public

Administration, Maastricht, Netherlands.

 Dubey, M., 2003, Less Paper Governance, Paper Presented at EROPA Conference, NewDelhi.

 E-Government: What a Leader Should Know? E-Government Readiness Assessment, 2008, Division

for Public Administration and Development Management, US, retrieved from

http://www.unpan.org/training egovform.asp.

 Gronlund, A, 2004, Introducing e-Gov: History, Definitions, and Issues, Journal of Communications

of the Association for Information Systems, US, retrieved from www.scimagojr.com>jo

 Halachmi, Arie, E-Government Theory and Practice: The Evidence from Tennessee USA, in Marc

Holzer, Mengzhong Zhang, and Keyong Dong, (eds.), Frontiers of Public Administration, The

American Society for Public Administration, New York

 Hammer, Michael, & James Champy, 2003, Reengineering the Corporation – A Manifesto for

Business Revolution, Harper Business Essentials

 http://egov.mitgov.in/bground1.htm

 http://persmin.nic.in/RTI/WebActRTI.htm

 http://www.egovonline.net-asia`s leading portal on e-governance

E‐Governance: Concept and Significance 27

 http://www.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/definition.htm

 Jaynath V., Implementing E-Governance, November 8, 2000, The Hindu

 Open Data platform retrieved from http://data.gov.in

 Office of the E-Envoy, 2000, E-Government: A Strategic Framework for Public Services in the

Information Age, Stationery Office, London.

 Pablo Zelinna D., A Multi-Disciplinary Analysis of E-governance: Where do we Start, Pacific Asia

Conference on Information System, 2002, Brown and Benchmark Publishers, Madison, Wisconsin

 Pardhasradhi Y., Rakesh Chetal, and Namita Gupta, E-Governance and Indian Society: An Impact

Study of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, 2009, Kanishka Publishers & Distributers, New

Delhi

 Planning Commission of India, 2001, Report of the Working Group on Convergence and E-governance

2002-07 for Tenth Five-Year Plan.

 Riley T., B., 2003, The Riley Report (www.rileyis.com/report/may03.htm)

 Trannmuller, R., & Lenk, K., 2002, Electronic Government: Where Are We Heading? in R. Trannmuller

and K. Lenk, (eds.), Electronic Government: First International Conference, Springer, Berlin.

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