Digital Government & Development: Issues for Research and Policy Anthony M. Cresswell Center for Technology in Government University at Albany
Growing Links: Government, Technology, Development n World Bank Development Gateway ( n OECD (OLIS net, Communications Outlook) European Union (europa.eu.int) European Union (europa.eu.int) n US Federal Government ( n US States (
Lack of Consistent Strategies or Models
Approaches to the Puzzle n Understanding the domain of Digital Government n Understanding the components of Digital Government n Examining the links between Digital Government and development
Policy ManagementTechnology Domain of Digital Government
Policy Domain law, economics, demographics, culture, politics, societal & program goals, stakeholders, constituencies
Management Domain organizational structure, human resources, funding, change processes, business processes, decision processes, information flows
Technology Domain computing, collaboration & networking tools for information collection, processing, storage, sharing, analysis, integration, and knowledge management
Policy Domain of Digital Government
Policy Management Domain of Digital Government
Policy ManagementTechnology
Competing Views of Digital Government Application of advanced technology vs. Advanced application of technology
Components of Digital Government E-services E-commerce E-democracy E-management
E-services n 24 x 7 n self-service n more responsive n more customized n organized by need, not organization chart
Washington
E-commerce n government to business n citizens to government n government & business n nonprofit contracting n electronic catalogs n procurement cards n e-mall
E-commerce: IRS e-file
E-democracy n electronic voting n virtual town meetings n cyber campaigns n constituency services n cyber polls n electronic access to info n community forums
E-democracy: Santa Monica PEN
E-management n virtual organizations n knowledge networks n electronic records n digital libraries n data management & analysis
E-management: NYC Compstat
What Roles can Government Play in Economic Development ? n Marketer n Facilitator n Financier n Investor/Entrepreneur n Regulator
Marketing to Developers n Advertising business opportunities & advantages n Providing information resources n Publicizing human resources n Publicizing quality of life
Facilitating Development n Building e-commerce with government n Creating partnerships & brokering collaboration n Providing decision support and analysis n Job training
San Carlos, CA Virtual Development Tour
Financing and Providing Incentives n Tax incentives and concessions n Economic development zones n Utility regulation n Favorable tax policies and levels
Home of the Rural Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program
Direct Investment n Building out infrastructure n Building public facilities n Grants and development projects n Support for R&D, education
European Union Development Programs
Regulation n Zoning n Permitting n Planning n Information Policies (FOIA, privacy, public access/ownership)
Redmond, WA Comprehensive Plan
Research & Policy Issues n What is the best role for government v. the private and non-government sectors? n How to deal with limited access and resources: the digital divide? n Why so few success stories?
The Digital Divide: A Global Issue
What Role for Private and Non-Government Agencies?
Why so few digital government success stories? n Technology is necessary but not sufficient n We still need the right –leadership –management strategies –organizational structures –cross-boundary relationships –financing mechanisms –policies –public acceptance
Barriers to a Digital Government “ Many of the barriers to realizing the benefits of IT are not technical, but rather occur when social, political, or legal issues arise as attempts are made to deploy and adopt the IT and its applications.” - PITAC Interim Report, August 1998
Other observations n “In the on-line world, political boundaries are largely irrelevant.” Governing n “Technology is not the issue...it’s building a sense of community & governance.” Gary Lambert, leader of multi-state e-mall n “Government organizations represent almost stunning diversity.” CTG state-local project
Center for Technology in Government