E-governance:
E-governance
has gained more popularity in convoluted
business world. Many management scholars have described the concept of
e-governance which is emerging as an important activity in the business
field. It
is established that E-governance is the application of information and
communication technologies to transform the efficiency, effectiveness,
transparency and accountability of informational and transactional
exchanges
with in government, between government & govt. agencies of National,
State,
Municipal and Local levels, citizen & businesses, and to empower
citizens
through access & use of information (Mahapatra, 2006).
World Bank explained the E-governance as the use by
government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks,
the Internet and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform
relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These
technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of
government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and
industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient
government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased
transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and or cost
reductions."
According to the international organization, UNESCO,
"Governance refers to the exercise of political, economic and
administrative authority in the management of a country's affairs, including
citizens' articulation of their interests and exercise of their legal rights
and obligations. E-Governance may be understood as the performance of this
governance via the electronic medium in order to facilitate an efficient,
speedy and transparent process of disseminating information to the public, and
other agencies, and for performing government administration activities".
The Council of Europe elaborated e-Governance as "the use of electronic
technologies in three areas of public action such as relations between the
public authorities and civil society, the functioning of the public authorities at
all stages of the democratic process (electronic democracy) and the provision
of public services (electronic public services).
A Short History of E-Government:
Begun
approximately a decade ago, e-government refers to the application of the
Internet and other information technology (IT) to provide governmental
information and services electronically. It offers the potential of increased
convenience to the public by making such services available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, coupled with the advantages of improved accuracy and also reduced
cost to the government, deriving from its requiring little or no direct
interaction with a government employee. (See Box 1.1 in Chapter 1 of
this report for more on the distinction between electronic services and
e-government and on the terminology used in this report, generally.) This
appendix offers some context for the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s)
e-government activities and plans. The appendix consists of a brief look at the
legal and policy background information as well as the history of the federal
government’s experience with e-government, what the status of e-government is
across the United States and to some extent internationally, and then how the
SSA’s role and progress compared with those of other government agencies.
E-Governance in India:
In India, the
the main thrust for e-Governance was provided by the launching of NICNET in 1987 –
the national satellite-based computer network. This was followed by the launch
of the District Information System of the National Informatics Centre (DISNIC)
programme to computerize all district offices in the country for which free
hardware and software was offered to the State Governments. NICNET was extended
via the State capitals to all district headquarters by 1990. In the ensuing
years, with ongoing computerization, tele-connectivity and internet
connectivity established a large number of e-Governance initiatives, both at
the Union and State levels.
E Governance-Applications:
In the arena of advanced technology, e-government has
distinct place and it facilitates to a huge number of customers to perform their
task speedily. As the Internet supported digital communities grow, they present
the national governments with numerous challenges and opportunities. e-Governance
which also known as electronic governance is basically the application of
Information and Communications Technology to the processes of Government
functioning in order to bring about 'Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and
Transparent' governance (Governance for The Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007),
Planning Commission, November 2001 ). E-governance involves the use of ICTs by
government organisations for Exchange of information with citizens, businesses
or other government departments, Faster and more efficient delivery of public
services, Improving internal efficiency, Reducing costs / increasing revenue,
Re-structuring of administrative processes and Improving the quality of services.
E-governance evolution in India:
The
notion of e-governance evolved in India during the seventies with a
focus on
development of in-house government applications in the areas of defence,
economic monitoring, planning and the deployment of information
technology to
manage data-intensive functions related to elections, census, and tax
administration. In the Indian scenario, there were great efforts of the
National
Informatics Centre (NIC) to join all the district headquarters during
the
eighties. In the beginning of nineties, IT technologies were improved by
ICT
technologies to extend its use for broader sectorial applications with
policy
emphasis on reaching out to rural areas and taking in greater inputs
from NGOs
and the private sector as well. There has been an increasing involvement
of International donor agencies under the framework of e-governance for
development to catalyse the expansion of e-governance laws and
technologies in
developing nations.
E-Governance Modals:
Broadcasting - Wider Dissemination Model
The model is based on the dissemination of government information already available in the public domain into the wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media.
Critical Flow Model
The model is based on the principle of dissemination/ channelizing of information of critical value to a targeted audience or in wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media. This model requires a foresight and understanding of the "use value" of a particular information set and locating users to whom the availability of a particular information set would make a critical difference.
Comparative Analysis Model:
The Comparative Knowledge Model is one of the least-used but a highly influential model that is gradually gaining acceptance. The model, if used innovatively, can fully harness the potential and capacity offered by the rapidly expanding Information and Communication Technologies and aim it towards better governance. The model is based on exploring the information available in the public or private domain and comparing it with the known information sets to derive strategic learnings and arguments. Essentially, the model continuously assimilates new Knowledge Products and uses them as a precedence or benchmark to evaluate, influence or advocate changes in current policies and actions. 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 different situations.
The model is based on the dissemination of government information already available in the public domain into the wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media.
Critical Flow Model
The model is based on the principle of dissemination/ channelizing of information of critical value to a targeted audience or in wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media. This model requires a foresight and understanding of the "use value" of a particular information set and locating users to whom the availability of a particular information set would make a critical difference.
Comparative Analysis Model:
The Comparative Knowledge Model is one of the least-used but a highly influential model that is gradually gaining acceptance. The model, if used innovatively, can fully harness the potential and capacity offered by the rapidly expanding Information and Communication Technologies and aim it towards better governance. The model is based on exploring the information available in the public or private domain and comparing it with the known information sets to derive strategic learnings and arguments. Essentially, the model continuously assimilates new Knowledge Products and uses them as a precedence or benchmark to evaluate, influence or advocate changes in current policies and actions. 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 different situations.
Interactive -
Service Model:
The Interactive-Service model is a consolidation of the earlier model and opens up avenues for direct participation of individuals in the governance processes. Fundamentally, ICT has the potential to bring in every individual in a digital network and enable two-way/interactive flow of information amongst them. The the potential of ICT for the governance is fully leveraged in this model and leads to greater participation, efficiency and transparency in the functioning of the government as well as savings in time and costs relating to decision-making.
The Interactive-Service model is a consolidation of the earlier model and opens up avenues for direct participation of individuals in the governance processes. Fundamentally, ICT has the potential to bring in every individual in a digital network and enable two-way/interactive flow of information amongst them. The the potential of ICT for the governance is fully leveraged in this model and leads to greater participation, efficiency and transparency in the functioning of the government as well as savings in time and costs relating to decision-making.
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