Governments these days often boast about the efficiency of their electronic systems. Information communication technologies (ICTs) apparently allow public service to become cheaper, faster and more democratic. E-government has become another buzzword, the shining future of the public realm. Critics claim, however, that ICTs’ potential for democratic renewal is hampered by ancient assumptions of how governments should function. But which viewpoint is nearer the truth? In this original and insightful volume, Vincent Homburg demonstrates how the use, form and impact of ICTs are, in fact, entwined within the socio-political, economic and institutional aspects already established by government and public administration. Evangelical or fatalistic perspectives are discredited to show the different realities in which ICTs play a role in our daily lives. Using case studies and vignettes from throughout Europe and the US, the book analyzes what these new technologies actually do, and how they are screened through varying layers of bureaucracy and convention. This is a timely addition to our understanding of what is meant by e-government. It gets behind the political rhetoric. Understanding E-Government: Information Systems in Public Administration will be key reading for all students of public administration, political science, organization theory and information systems.

This volume critically explores the contentions in the emerging debate surrounding new media technologies and the extent to which they are challenging traditional political and government models. Examining a range of citizen/government interactions which together form e-government in different contexts, this book assesses the potential of new media technologies to facilitate new institutional patterns for governance and participation, as experienced primarily, but not only, across Europe. Analysing a range of challenges spanning from those of a technological and conceptual nature to those of a more political and legal nature, the authors scrutinise the central policies at governmental and organisational levels and consider the following questions: Is society driving or responding to e-government and is it ready to cope with it? What implications does e-government have for the power/democracy relationship? Is the technology right for e-government? What is needed to ensure government services are delivered optimally? How is e-government perceived and is it trusted? How are the sensitive issues of identity, privacy and social inclusion dealt with? How are management and safety dealt with when one considers issues such as activism, cyberterrorism, biometrics, and new implications for international relations? This comprehensive text will be of interest to students and scholars of public policy, politics, media and communication studies, sociology, law and European studies. It will also offer insights of relevance to practitioners and policy-makers in regional, national, and transnational governance, reform and innovation.

E-government and democratic politics / by Mike Margolis -- E-government and the European Union / by Paul Nixon -- E-government under construction : challenging traditional conceptions of citizenship / by Miriam Lips -- Danger mouse? : the growing threat of cyberterrorism / by Rajash Rawal -- E-government and the United Kingdom / by Nicholas Pleace -- The digital republic : re-newing the French state via e-government / by Fabienne Greffet -- E-government in Germany / by Tina Siegfried -- Re-organizing government using it : the Danish model / by Kim Viborg Andersen, Helle Zinne Henriksen & Eva Born Rasmussen -- E-government in the Netherlands / by Martin van Rossum and Desire Dreessen -- The reform and modernization of Greek public administration via e-government / by Vassiliki N. Koutrakou -- ALT-TAB : from ICTS to organizational innovation in Portugal / by Gustavo Cardoso and Tiago Lapa -- Estonia : the short road to e-government and e-democracy / by Marc Ernsdorff and Adriana Berbec -- This revolution will be digitized! : e-government in Hungary / by Katalin Szalki and Paul Nixon -- E-government and Slovenia's multiple transitions / by Darren Purcell.

From Government to E-Governance: Public Administration in the Digital Age will aim to provide relevant theoretical frameworks, past experiences, and the latest empirical research findings in the area of public administration systems that existed in earlier civilizations, as well as e-governance-introduced modern times. The target audience of this book will be composed of academics, students, civil servants, researchers, and policy advisors teaching and studying public administration and public policy, thinking to bring administrative reforms and working in government.

Unlocking E-Government Potential: Concepts, Cases and Practical Insights provides a conceptual and empirical basis for understanding the potential of e-government and practical insights for implement-action of e-government at local, state or national level. The author provides an overview of global experience in implementing e-government, explores the potential impact of e-government on cost of access, quality of service and quality of governance for citizens and businesses and analyzes the potential impact of e-government on transparency and corruption.

The first textbook on information systems to specifically address public sector and government issues, 'Implementing and Managing eGovernment' offers a truly international perspective and coverage, incorporating hundreds of case studies and case sketches.

Explore the latest groundbreaking e-government insider information! The World of E-Government investigates how electronic communication is helping to revolutionize democracies across the globe. Using case studies, cutting-edge research, and commentary from some of the field’s foremost researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders, this first-of-its-kind volume explores the enormous future potential of e-government as it links all world citizens locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. This pioneering text offers the experiences of many leading countries using electronic government, showing you what mistakes they made, the benefits they’ve reaped, and the impact of e-government to democracy, traditional government, and international commerce. Contributors to this timely book include some of the world’s leading practitioners in e-government—people who were actually involved in establishing and shaping the experiences of countries now ranked as leaders in e-government projects. These authorities reveal how their countries successfully implemented e-strategies to directly benefit their citizens. The World of E-Government details how electronic government is being used to govern and change the lives of citizens online in such areas of the world as: the United States Singapore Canada the European Union Australia New Zealand Germany This book will give you a better understanding of: how to best plan for citizen use of e-government how countries have avoided waste and unnecessary spending how e-government can move forward by using optimal planning and previous experiences what citizens expect of e-government in countries around the globe the realities, the latest initiatives, and the future of e-government in America, Europe, and elsewhere The World of E-Government is an essential book for all elected officials and their staffs, e-government practitioners, researchers, and information specialists to use in order to stay up-to-date with the growing needs of the general public. The advice offered in this text can help you improve service delivery, provide vital information to the public, and enhance public participation online. This volume contains useful bibliographies, additional readings, tables, and figures to further your career or research studies in public administration, government, political science, law, education, or information technology.