Description
Book SynopsisIn Innovations in E-Government, Erwin A. Blackstone, Michael L. Bognanno, and Simon Hakim make the case that E-government is expected to make middle management of lesser value and flatten the pyramid of management in government. Improved communications, measurability of output, and the greater accountability of workers will reduce the necessary level of worker supervision and reduce the need for middle management. In turn, decisions by top management become more transparent and their accountability will also rise. Thus, as a result of improved technology, government could become leaner. Workers will be more empowered, efficient, and accountable. When considering the long term effects of e-government on the structure and activities of government, increased transparency becomes a most beneficial aspect. When activities are reported, meetings are broadcast and information is easily accessed, citizens become more informed. This will make government more accountable and good governance in one locality will increase the pressure on others to also adopt the same innovations. E-government is a technological innovation and moves from an inefficient and mainly unaccountable bureaucracy to a new entrepreneurial and accountable culture. It enables workers at lower levels of the hierarchy to take part in and be accountable for decision-making. E-government is being used to improve the management of cities and to achieve a more efficient use of resources. In the long run, opportunities exist for e-government to bring about a reorganization of government, one that would reduce excessively bureaucratic processes and organizational structures. It is these changes that may ultimately bring the biggest cost savings to taxpayers.
Trade ReviewInnovations most effectively communicates that e-government can structurally improve public-sector operations and services using anecdotal experiences from governors and mayors around the country who describe their own experiences with making government more e-friendly. ... High-profile essays from the likes of Jeb Bush, Mark Warner, Rudy Giuliani, Willie Brown and Mark Forman share space with equally interesting and/or applicable overviews from lesser-known officials. Authors were chosen for their commitment to e-government implementation and relative success in doing so. Most are forthcoming with their management and information-gathering strategies at each stage of execution. -- Alison Lake * Public Cio *
Table of ContentsPart 1 I. Introduction Chapter 2 1. Electronic Government: Review, Evaluation, and Anticipated Impact Part 3 II. Increasing the Efficiency of Internal Government Operations Chapter 4 2. Information Technology and Homeland Security: The Federal Perspective Chapter 5 3. Using Technology to Strengthen Government Accountability and Achieve True Regulatory Reform Chapter 6 4. Citistat and Operational Efficiency in City Government Chapter 7 5. Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Accountability: Improving the Quality of Life through E-Government Chapter 8 6. Information Technology as a Tool for Government Reform Chapter 9 7. A Strategic Plan is Not Optional Chapter 10 8. Newark Brings Its Municipal Government Online Chapter 11 9. GIS in San Francisco Chapter 12 10. High-Tech Communications Trailer: Enhanced Public Safety Part 13 III. Facilitating Government To Business Interactions Chapter 14 11. The Commonwealth of eVA: Improving Government Efficiency Chapter 15 12. Making Government Work Chapter 16 13. The District's Business Resource Center: The Best in e-Customer Service Part 17 IV. Improving Service Delivery To The Public Chapter 18 14. Digital Democracy in Alaska Chapter 19 15. The Evolution of E-Government in Pennsylvania Chapter 20 16. Streamlining In Arkansas Chapter 21 17. Providing Digital Government Services Around the Clock Through the Louisiana Services Directory Chapter 22 18. Georgia on My Mind: Providing Services to the People Chapter 23 19. The Development of South Dakota's Service Direct Portal Chapter 24 20. Delivering the Promise of E-Government Chapter 25 21. City of Edmonton e-Business Program Chapter 26 22. Using Technology and Making E-Government Work Chapter 27 23. Technology as an Investment in Neighborhoods: Tampa's Neighborhood Information Page Chapter 28 24. E-Government Innovation in Honolulu Chapter 29 25. Using Technology to Reduce and Improve Service Chapter 30 26. Leveraging City Assets in a Public/Private Partnership to Build a Fibre Optic Infrastructure Chapter 31 27. Applying Innovations in Mid-Sized Cities: 311 and Chattanooga's Results Chapter 32 28. Transforming e-Government into E-Service
