BIT 2231-E-Biz: Harnessing the
Business with e-Market
E-GOVERNANCE and E-
GOVERNMENT
Byungura Jean Claude (PhD)
Department of Business Information Technology
(BIT)
Enrollment Key: EBIZ2021
1. E-GOVERNANCE
E-governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government
functioning for good governance.
In other words, e-governance is the public sector’s use of ICTs with the
aim to:
1. Improve information and service delivery,
2. Encourage citizen participation in decision-making and
3. Make government more accountable, transparent and efficient.
E-governance means providing public access to information via the
internet by government departments and their agencies.
So in essence, e-governance is the application of ICT in government
functioning to bring in SMART governance implying: Simple, Moral,
Accountable, Responsive and Transparent governance.
SMART GOVERNANCE
Simple- meaning simplification of rules, regulations and processes of
government through the use of ICTs and thereby providing for a user-
friendly government
Moral- connoting emergence of an entirely new system of ethical values
in the political and administrative machinery.
Example: Technology interventions improve the efficiency of
anticorruption agencies, police, judiciary, etc.
Accountable-facilitating design, development and implementation of
effective Management Information System and performance
measurement mechanisms and thereby ensuring accountability of public
service functionaries.
SMART GOVERNANCE
Responsive- streamlining the processes to speed up the service delivery
and make system more responsive.
Transparent-bringing information hitherto confined in the government
documents to the public domain and making processes and functions
transparent, which in turn would bring equity and rule of law in
responses of the administrative agencies
Example: Gvt of Rwanda availing its services on Irembo Portal for the
citizens.
In Class Virtual Discussion Forum
Ina Group of 2 Students, decide on one
government service which is currently delivered
online. Analyse that service in line with the
SMART Governance as explained in class.
Each Group will name the online slides they are
working on with their names and Reg No.
This Task takes 45 Minutes
SMART GOVERNANCE ADVANTAGES
Improving the internal organizational processes of
governments;
Providing better information and service delivery;
Increasing government transparency in order to reduce
corruption;
Reinforcing political credibility and accountability; and
Promoting democratic practices through public
participation and consultation.
E-governance and E-government
E-governance and e-government are often used interchangeably, so
distinguishing between them is imperative.
e-Government and e-Governance seem synonyms to each other however
they are totally different.
Most people think they are the same.
Accordingto Thomas B. Riley, Government and Governance are both
about getting the consent and cooperation of the governed.
But
whereas government is the formal apparatus for this objective,
governance is the outcome as experienced by those on the receiving
end…
E-government is a system whereas E-governance is functionality.
E-governance and E-government
E-government is, thus, the modernisation of processes and functions of
government using the tools of ICT as to transform the way it serves its
constituents.
As per the World Bank, e-government refers to the use by government agencies of
information technologies (such as wide area networks, internet and mobile
computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses and
other arms of government. It is the use of technology to enhance the access to and
delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees.
E-governance, on the other hand, goes beyond the service delivery
aspects and is seen as a decisional process.
It is about the use of ICTs in the systems of governance, that is, using
ICT to involve multistakeholders in decision-making and in making
governments open and accountable
E-Governance Versus E-Government
More about E-Government
Itrefers to the implementation of information and
communication technology like the internet.
Throughthe use of technology, it improves the
government activities and process.
e-Government is embedded in combinations of
political conditions as well as cultural, technological
and organizational changes designed to support and
drive a profound transformation in government units.
e-Government concept: Four domains
e-Administration – Improving government processes by using ICTs and
government process management. No paperwork, each and every process need
to be done via the use of ICT.
e-Government services – Delivering government services electronically to
citizens, businesses, and government employees. Example- application for
citizenship through the online system.
e-Democracy – Improving transparency and democratic decision making, as well
as citizens’ participation in public decisions. e-Voting is a perfect example here.
e-Governance – It is a development, deployment, and enforcement of the
policies, laws, and regulations necessary for developing cooperation, networking
and partnerships between government units, citizens and the business. Citizen
will get government services using technology.
Key Benefits of e-Government
I. Better provision of government services
II. Improved interaction with different groups and citizen
III. Citizen empowerment through access to information
IV. Efficient government management
V. Easy implementation of Right to Information
VI. It is a two-way process from Government to citizen and
vice versa.
More about E-Governance
It is a part of e-Government.
E-Governance deals with all regulations and policies to control
the services provided by the e-Government.
However, E-Government should be regulated by the E-
Governance.
Moreover, e-Governance refers to the utilization of
information and communication technology (ICT) for providing
government services, disseminating information,
communication operations with the general public.
Benefits of e-Governance
Be ne fits of e -Gove rnance
A. Better provision of government services
B. Improved interaction with different groups
C. Citizen
empowerment through access to
information
D. Efficient government management
Key Differences of these Concepts
E-government E-governance
E-Government is a system E-Governance is a functionality.
E-Government means the E-Governance implies the use of ICT in
application/implementation of ICT in transforming and supporting functions and
government operations, as a tool to make a structures of the system.
better government. It is a one-way protocol (Citizen to
E-Government is a two-way protocol Government)
(government to citizen and vice versa) e-Governance never comes alone, instead it is
E-Government supports E-governance part of e-Government.
initiatives.
STAGES OF E-GOVERNANCE
1. Simple information dissemination (one-way communication)- is
considered as the most basic form, as it is used for merely disseminating
information;
Example: Government institutional Websites providing information to
the public with no interaction
2. Two-way communication (request and response)- is characterized with
e-mail system and information and data-transfer technologies in the form
of website;
Example: Some interactive Websites/systems allowing citizens to
interact with Government
3. Service and financial transactions- Government enabling online
services and financial transactions leading to web based self-services;
STAGES OF E-GOVERNANCE
3. Integration (both vertical and
horizontal)- in this stage the government
would attempt inter and intra-governmental
integration; (One or Many Government
Institutions able to interact)
Example: Irembo – RRA – Migration –
MINALOC-NIDA-Police- HEC- Land Centre,
….etc
4. Political participation- this stage means
online voting, online public forums and
opinion surveys for more direct and wider
interaction with the government.
STAGES OF E-GOVERNANCE
Integration (both vertical and horizontal)- in this
stage the government would attempt inter and
intra-governmental integration; (One or Many
Government Institutions able to interact)
Political participation- this stage means online
voting, online public forums and opinion surveys for
more direct and wider interaction with the
government.
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
These models are:
Broadcasting
model
• The Broadcasting Model
Interactive- • The Critical Flow Model
Critical Flow
Service
Model E- Model • The Comparative Analysis Model
Governance • The E-Advocacy/Mobilization and Lobbying
Models Model
• The Interactive-Service Model
E-Advocacy Comparative
Model Analysis Model
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
The Broadcasting Model:
The model is based on dissemination/broadcasting of useful governance
information, which is in the public domain into the wider public domain
with ICT and convergent media. The strength of the model rests upon
the fact that a more informed citizenry is better able to judge the
functioning of existing governance mechanisms and make an informed
opinion about them.
Applications
Putting governmental laws and legislations online
Making available the names, contact addresses, emails, mobile numbers
of local/ regional/ national government officials online.
Make available information such as governmental plans, budgets,
expenditures, and performance reports online.
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
The Critical Flow Model
The model is based on disseminating/channeling information of
critical value to the targeted audience or into the wider public
domain with ICT and convergent media.
The strength of this model is that ICT makes the concept of
‘distance’ and ‘time’ redundant when information is hosted on
a digital network, and this could be used advantageously by
instantly transferring the critical information to its strategic
user group located anywhere or by making it freely available in
the wider public domain.
The Critical Flow Model
Some Applications
This model could be applied in the following possible ways:
Making available corruption related data about a particular Ministry /
Division/ Officials online to its electoral constituency or to the
concerned regulatory body.
Making available Research studies, Enquiry reports, Impact studies
commissioned by the Government or Independent commissions to the
affected parties.
Making Human Rights Violations cases violations freely available to
Judiciary, NGOs and concerned citizens.
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
The Comparative Analysis Model
This model is highly significant model for developing countries and
can be used for empowering people.
Essentially, the model continuously assimilates best practices in the
areas of governance and then uses them as benchmarks to evaluate
other governance practices
The model is based on using immense capacity of ICT and social
media tools to explore given information sets with comparable
information available in the public or private domain.
For instance, if a given amount of money can build 5 primary schools
in District 'A' in a country, then why does the same amount of money
build only 2 schools in District 'B’?
Could this be because of corruption of officials and contractors
involved, or siphoning of money for other things?
The Comparative Analysis Model
Some Applications
This model could be applied in the following possible ways:
To learn from past policies and actions and derive learning lessons for future policy-making.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the current policies and identify key learnings in terms of strengths
and flaws in the policies.
To effectively establish conditions of Precedence, especially in the case of Judicial or legal
decision-making (example for resolving patent-related disputes, public goods ownership rights), and
use it to influence/ advocate future decision-making.
To enable informed decision-making at all levels by enhancing the background knowledge and also
providing a rationale for action.
To evaluate the performance and track-record of a particular decision-maker/ decision-making
body.
Example: The Human Development Report of UNDP makes use of archived Statistical information
pertaining to literacy, health, national income etc. as a benchmark to assess the progress made by
different countries with regards to their Human Development Index and suggests policy
recommendations based on that.
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
The E-Advocacy/Mobilisation and Lobbying Model
This model builds the momentum of real-world processes by adding the
opinions and concerns expressed by virtual communities. This model
helps the global civil society to impact on global decision-making
processes.
It is based on setting up a planned, directed flow of information to build
strong virtual allies to complement actions in the real world.
Virtual communities are formed which share similar values and
concerns and these communities in turn link up with or support real-life
groups/activities for concerted action.
E-Advocacy/Mobilisation and Lobbying Model
Some Applications
This model could be applied in the following possible ways:
Fostering public debates on issue of larger concerns, namely on the
themes of upcoming conferences, treaties etc.
Formation of pressure groups on key issues to force decision-makers
to take their concerns into cognizance.
Making available opinions of a suppressed groups who are not
involved in the decision-making process into wider public domain.
Catalysing wider participation in decision-making processes.
Building up global expertise on a particular theme in absence of
localised information to aid decision-making.
MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE
The Interactive-Service Model
It opens avenues for direct participation of individuals in
governance processes and brings in greater objectivity and
transparency in decision-making processes through ICT.
Fundamentally, ICT has the potential to bring in every individual
in a digital network and enable interactive (two-way) flows of
information among them.
The Interactive-Service Model
Some Applications
1. To establish an interactive communication channels with key policy-
makers and members of planning commissions.
2. To conduct electronic ballots for the election of government officials
and other office bearers.
3. To conduct public debates / opinion polls on issues of wider concern
before formulation of policies and legislative frameworks.
4. Establishing decentralised forms of governance.
5. Performing governance functions online such as revenue collection,
filing of taxes, governmental procurement, payment transfer etc.
Assignment 1
Consider any Government Institution in Rwanda and search for it
online, analyse its information accessed online such as on Website,
Twitter, Facebook, …etc.
Considering the discussed 4 Models of E-Governance, discuss what you
found on that Government institution and report which Model (s) are
adopted in providing the information. Give examples of the
information by referring to each model.
This Assignment is done individually. You will create a Post on CN
Platform with your name, RegNo and Assignment 1_Institution Name
Analysed.
Deadline: Wednesday 20th September, 2021
G2C
G2G
G2B
G2E
Types of E-Governance
E-Governance can be considered as the social inclusive
policy for development of transparency and accountability
of both people in society and administration.
This policy involves providing the services to the people
with collection of information through the institutional
and communicational development.
Types of E-Governance
It provides quality services in several ways.
Those ways are also called as types of e-governance:
G2C (Government to Citizen)
G2G (Government to Government)
G2B (Government to Business)
G2E (Government to Employee)
1. G2C (Government to Citizen)
As people are the key concept of politics and government as well as
governance, the government is compelled to connect with citizens through
the transparent and accountable order.
In this connection the government is responsible for promoting the social
opportunities and public services in the field of-
Transportation (Registration of motor vehicles, Issue of driving licenses, Issue of
plying permissions, Tax and fee collection through cash and bank challans and
control of pollution etc.),
Hospitals (linking of various hospitals in different parts of the country to
ensures better medical services to citizens),
Education (availability of the e-learning modules to the citizens, right to
education),
Online job portals and various customer services.
1. G2C (Government to Citizen)
Throgh through e-governance platform, Governments also
ensure services such as:
Issue of certificates,
Job cards and adverts,
Passport applications,
Payments of bills
And filing the taxes from the door step.
The main objectives of the G2C services are to ensure:
1) Equitable distribution of information for all,
2) Acceptance of citizen’s feedback,
3) And improving welfare services.
2. G2G (Government to Government)
G2G has been referring to raising the quality of the
government process by cost cutting, managing
performance, and making strategic connections within
government.
It enables government institutions to be more efficient
and more effective by the use of IT tools such as-
Live fingerprints scanning and verification,
Robotic systems scanning fever to patients at Airports
Electronic entry of reports and paperwork etc. (Document
repository) – National Data Centers
2. G2G (Government to Government)
The major key areas in this type of e-governance are:
E-Secretariat(all the valuable information regarding the
function of the government are interlinking throughout
the various departments),
E-Police (police personnel records, criminal records etc),
and
E-Court
(creating a database of all the previous cases,
pending and ongoing cases) and Online Hearing Facilities
3. G2B (Government to Business)
G2B is mainly concerned with areas such as:
E-taxation,
Getting a license from the government etc. (Digital Certificates
issuance)
Secure Electronics Transactions.
E.g. Government allowing its services to be paid through MoMo Pay /
Airtelt Money, Visa, MasterCard…etc
It has included the policy of government with business.
According to S.P Kumar (2011), ”the essentials for achievement of G2B
services for secure and authentic transactions include: Standards for
electronic transactions, a secure payment mechanism and Public key
infrastructure”
4. G2E (Government to Employee)
The G2E model refers to providing information and services from
government to employee and employee to government as well.
It involves ongoing training through:
e-learning methods and portals;
Consolidating the employee through an online shared working
environment (Eg. Google Slides)
Online platform for sharing knowledge among the employees.
It has also facilitated the employee to access information regarding
payment and benefit policies and manage their profits through online.
E.g.: Mifotra E-service Portal for Employee Performance and Evaluation
SIGNIFICANCE OF E-GOVERNANCE
Administrative Development; and
Effective Service Delivery
Administrative Development
Administrative reforms, often, have focused on
procedural details and restructuring of systems
and processes of government organisations.
The basic objective of these reforms is to
enhance capacities of the systems.
ICTs can be used and are being used now to give
further impetus to the process.
Administrative Development
1. Automation of Administrative Processes
A truly e-governed system would require minimal human intervention
and would
rather be system driven.
While initially the solutions that were offered were quite primitive with
poor information layout, inadequate navigation provisions, occasional
disruption in services, periodic outdated content and little or no ‘back
office’ support.
However, technological advancements and increased pressure from
citizenry have prompted improvements in these areas.
Now administrative departments are computerized and connected
through network.
Several Software Packages have been built and designed around
government departments ensuring efficiency in operations.
Administrative Development
1. Automation of Administrative Processes
The departments have launched individual websites carrying information
of their respective departments.
This has enabled online carrying of operations and file movements.
Budgeting, accounting, data flow, etc. has become easy. (BNR-Online
Services to Govt Institutions - Businesses
This has increased the efficiency of office operations and processes and
has reduced unnecessary delays.
Administrative Development
2. Paper Work Reduction
An immediate impact of automation would be on the paperwork.
Paperwork is reduced to a greater extent with communication being enabled via electronic
route and storage and retrieval of information in the electronic form.
All this has led to emergence of ‘less paper office’.
This concept is defined as an office automation where all the information (file and mail)
amongst various functionaries is distributed online.
In the words of Dubey, less paper office is the implementation of effective electronic
communication processes that enable elimination of reproductive works and unnecessary
papers.
The concept is where files and mails (information) are transmitted over wires to small
computers at each employee’s desk.
Office work, such as, file movements, notings, etc. is computerized and documentation,
report preparation, databases are now maintained in computers.
Due to interconnectivity through LAN, transfer of information and files take place online,
thus reducing the physical movements and consumption and storage of huge piles of paper.
Administrative Development
3. Quality of Services
ICT helps governments to deliver services to the citizens with greater accountability,
responsiveness and sensitivity.
Quality of services (QoS) improves, as now the people are able to get services
efficiently and instantaneously.
As volumes of transactions and information can be electronically handled and
delivered over a wider area through the net and web, qualitative services become
possible in least time, in least cost, in least difficulty and in greater convenience.
By ensuring online redressal of grievances the accountability of officials is ensured.
Government Officials have become sensitive to the issues affecting people.
Monitoring by way of video teleconferencing has further facilitated central monitoring,
reporting and face to face communication that has assured effective service delivery
by the officials.
( Example: Jobs interviews being video-conferenced, Court Hearing done Online…etc)
Administrative Development
4. Elimination of Hierarchy
ICT has reduced procedural delays caused by hierarchical
processes in the organisation.
Through Intranet and LAN, it has become possible to send
information and data across various levels in the organisation
at the same time.
Computerisation and communication patterns facilitated by
ICT have increased efficiency and have led to the involvement
of all levels in decision-making.
Administrative Development
5. Change in Administrative Culture
Bureaucratic structures have been plagued by characteristics aptly
described by Victor Thompson as ‘bureau-pathology’.
From the days of New Public Administration, efforts have been made to
find ways to deal with the pathological or dysfunctional aspects of
bureaucratic behaviour and to make delivery of public services effective
and efficient.
With e-governance, public actions coming under public glare would
certainly induce norms and values of accountability, openness, integrity,
fairness, equity, responsibility and justice in the administrative culture.
Rather, administration would become efficient and responsive.
Effective Service Delivery
ICTs play an important role in effectively delivering services to the
people. ICTs ensure:
Transparency by dissemination and publication of information on the
web. This provides easy access to information and subsequently makes
the system publicly accountable. Also as web enables free flow of
information, it can be easily accessed by all without any discrimination.
Economic Development
The deployment of ICTs reduces the transaction costs, which makes
services
cheaper. For example, rural areas suffer on account of lack of information
regarding markets, products, agriculture, health, education, weather, etc.
and if all this could be accessed online would lead to better and more
opportunities and thereby prosperity in these areas
Effective Service Delivery
Social Development
The access to information empowers the citizens. Informed citizenry can
participate and voice their concerns, which can be accommodated in the
programme / project formulation, implementation, monitoring and service
delivery. Web enabled participation will counter the discriminatory factors
affecting our societal behaviour.
• Strategic Information System
Changing organisational environment and increasing competitiveness
have put pressures on the performance of the functionaries. Information
regarding all aspects need to be made available to the management at
every point to make routine as well as strategic decisions. ICTs
effectively enable putting such strategic information systems in place.
SUGGESTIONS
The above discussion highlighted the important role of
ICTs in governance
In order to harness the benefits of ICTs maximally, we
need:
To develop sufficient and adequate infrastructure,
Provide sufficient capital and investment,
Enable easy and wider accessibility and generate ample
and skillful human resources.
Infrastructure
The foundation of e-governance is based on the telecommunication
services:
To develop telecommunication: Infrastructures are to be created so
that the end-user is able to access the services promptly and
effectively.
To strengthen the infrastructure: ‘The National TaskForce on
Information and Communication Technology and Software Development
recommend broadband connection linkage for IT Applications Service
Providers (ASPs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and IT promotional
organizations, either by fiber optics or by radio communication,
The aim of this is to ‘boost efficiency and enhance market integration’
through Internet/Intranet for sustainable National /Regiona
development
Capital
A high rate of investment in IT capital and a supportive environment is
necessary to achieve digital economy through E-governance services/
service digitalization
In view of the resource crunch with the government, there is need to
generate resources from the market and private sector.
Public-private partnership may be beneficial in this regard, as the
private sector can participate and contribute with capital and
expertise support.
Access
Atpresent, internet penetrated in the countries in particular in
Rwanda.
Search Infos on Internet Penetration Rate in Rwanda.
But the irony is that more than 75 percent of the users are in urban
areas.
Internet has still to reach the rural and disadvantaged sections.
However, efforts are being made to expand ICT connectivity into rural
areas.
Ina similar way, initiative such as Digital Ambassador Program, ICT
Buses are initiated by Government of Rwanda to develop digital skills
and provide access to E-services
From RISA
Programs of Digital Ambassadors and ICT Buses to bridge
the digital divide in rural communities by providing basic
training and access to ICT to rural based entrepreneurs,
farmers, traders and rural communities especially to areas
that lack access to power and connectivity.
A rural farmer or an entrepreneur will easily access
services they need near and more conveniently instead of
moving a long distance to find the services. There are
currently four buses with one bus operating in each
province in Rwanda.
Utility of Information
There is a need to provide information, which is useful.
The content of the information should be such that it should be
interesting, beneficial and appealing to the people.
In this regard, some Governments and some of the state governments
have to prepare a vision document for e-governance keeping in mind the
needs of the citizens.
Though Citizens’ Charters of many departments are available on the net,
further publicity of such facilities is required to enable the public to
access the necessary information.
Human Resource Development
Despite the ascending growth rate observed in employment in
IT sector, there is dearth of quality manpower.
Thereexists a demand and supply gap in the IT manpower
market.
Government apparently needs to have more technical
institutes to impart education and training to build a pool of
human resources in the field.
Example: In Rwanda, several universities from abroad are
attracted to establish in Rwanda (Carnegie Mellon
University, ALU, Oklahoma…etc) to support local
universities in ICT related education
Capacity Building
Service delivery will be effective if there is a trained manpower.
Though computer trainings and workshops.
Changing the Mindset of Government Functionaries.
To accept the change there is a need to change the mindset of
service providers and receivers.
The government functionaries need to be made aware that they are
there to serve the clients as per the policies and programmes and
that technological advancement is only a facilitator to solutions of
problems faced by people and not a solution in itself.
To change the mindset of the service providers there is a need to
impart orientation and training programmes to them.
Language
Successof e-government also depends on communication with
the people in their local languages.
Currently,
the most widely used language is English for e-
government.
But given the Rwanda social conditions, unless we develop
interfaces in native languages, it would remain out of reach of
many people who are not capable of accessing these services
in English.
In this context, it is essential that a clear strategy be
formulated to provide access to local level databases
maintained in regional and local languages as well as to use
appropriate interfaces to aggregate such data.
END
