e-governance

Editor's Notes

• #5: Canada‘s approach to e-governance is different from that of the U.S. For online services, U.S. focuses more on the business client at the federal level whereas Canada focuses on key services for both citizens and individuals in a more decentralized way.
• #8: Load balancing regulates the traffic generated by the incoming requests to the servers. Load balancing software handles information requests with the most available capacity in order to avoid “server busy” messages. Security layer controls which information to be given and to whom. This layer is used to prevent the hacking and making online transaction safe. When web server jumps up against its performance limits, especially when the server has to extract too much information during the peak traffic, the cache gives a helping hand by storing frequently requested information.
• #9: Technologies in the Basic Application layers are content management system, personalization, transaction engines, site analysis, campaign management, and customer support. Content management system makes it easy to create and organize web content especially with thousands of pages and lots of interchangeable words and images. Other features of content management system are server caching and analysis of web site traffic. Personalization system stores the visitor/ citizen profile while they visit the site. The system prompts the visitor to give their profile on voluntary basis. Also it tracks the visitor’s visits. Transaction engine allows the visitor to configure his/her request and facilitates to pay by credit card or other means. Also it manages the service and visitor information, and it facilitates to have a real time link with a third party such as a credit card company or a bank. As web can reveal more about its visitor behavior than any other medium, most servers collect and store enormous amounts of information about how many page views they serve. Besides, site analysis system stores information such as how many visitors came in every month, how long they stayed on the site, and what they looked at. Campaign management system goes beyond the site analysis and helps to launch certain marketing efforts, such as automated email that responds instantly. Customer support system gives a helping hand to a visitor who has trouble using a site. The system gives automated help with the human touch[3].
• #10: For example, a web site gives the front-end interface to access to various services.
• #11: Where are we: the present status of application in the government organization. Analyzing the functional area in every government organization. Identifying the systems for which the application software is not yet developed is also a primary task. Where we want to go: what kind of governance are required by the next generation? It is trying to utilize internet technology to shape the way of living for the next generation How do we get there: Innovative Internet business models are to be created in e-governance context to intertwine the relationship between people and their government. Implementation can be done in progressive stages such as getting online with web sites, providing electronic distribution, implementing financial transaction such as tax or license payments.
• #12: Around the world, governments provided funding for the select pilot projects on government on-line, including projects such as public works, government services, and human resources. The real challenge for the government is to go about funding the full range of initiatives in order to achieve the objective of “Government Online”. One suggestion is that the concerned department has to come up with adequate fund by themselves. Other issue is utilizing the available resources both in the plan sector and outside it.
• #13: Trust: user must be confident, comfortable and trusting of the tool or technology with which they will interact. There has to be a balance between ensuring that a system prevents fraudulent transactions and the burden that extensive checks can take place on people who are honest. Recently, confidential information on military veterans was compromised when a computer containing their personal information was lost. This type of incident can erode trust and user confidence in government systems. Resistance to change government entities and public policy administrators cannot ignore the changes that occur as a result of the implementation of information and communication technology (ICT). In the early 1990s identified the important role that ICT would have in shaping public policy, and cautioned both rich and poor governments about neglecting its significance. Education about the value of the new systems is one step toward reducing some of the existing resistance. Digital Divide The digital divide refers to the separation that exists between individuals, communities, and businesses that have access to information technology and those that do not have such access[11]. Social, economic, infrastructural, lack of awareness indicators provide explanations for the presence of the digital divide. Cost Cost is one of the most important prohibiting factor that comes in the path of e-governance implementation particularly in the developing countries like India where most of the people living below the poverty line. Elected officers and politician don’t seem to be interested in implementing e-governance. Its return is not visible in the near future. In 2004, the United Kingdom and Singapore respectively spent 1 percent and 0.8 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on e-government. India is spending 3 percent of GDP[5]. Privacy and Security With the implementation of e-government projects, effective measures must be taken to protect sensitive personal information. A lack of clear security standards and protocols can limit the development of projects that contain sensitive information such as income, medical history.
• #14: Enhancing citizen awareness Citizen awareness about the potential of ICT should be enhanced. Citizen access to government information/services must increased rather than further divide the digital divide. Upgrading Skills Need to upgrade the IT skills of government employees. Employees must be effectively trained before introducing desired changes in work process in government departments. Common Standards All states/ union territories must be adopt common standards to ensure creation and optimum utilization of government databases for nationwide citizen-related services. Technology evaluation Common evaluation methodology must be evolved for hardware and software selection to derive maximum benefit from investment. Technological obsolescene must be factored in while planning and implementing ICT applications. Experience sharing Continuous experience sharing between state and union territory governments on projects so as to avoid reinventing the wheel. Security Transactional security must ne given priority to ensure that internet use is safe, seamless and crisis free. Reliable infrastructures Sufficient resources must be allocated to build a reliable ICT infrastructure to avoid breakdown of services. Cementing public-private­­­ partnerships to supplement government efforts must be considered.