e-government internal effects – the policy implications march 11, 2002

e-Governmente-GovernmentInternal Effects – The Policy Internal Effects – The Policy ImplicationsImplications

March 11, 2002March 11, 2002

ICTs – Potential Policy UsesICTs – Potential Policy Uses

information disseminationinformation gathering

– from the public (e-input, e-democracy)– from the Internet

ICTs, Information Gathering, and ICTs, Information Gathering, and Public PolicyPublic Policy

“With the establishment of the US government data Web site in 1997, a ten-year-old could gain access to more and better data than a senior official could have done just five years earlier.” Yergin and Stanislaw, 1998

demands on government to process information– quantity– speed

requirements– policy capacity– costs!!!

nothing that necessitates that government develop capacity


information overload -- filtering and synthesis required “The limited capacity of the human brain to absorb and process

information remains a brutal constraint...” R. Gualtieri, OECD

– who filters and synthesizes information may transfer some power to lower and middle level bureaucrats

– how is information filtered hierarchy

– complexity increasing amounts of available information may make decision-

making process more complex may hinder transparency and limit participation


information overload -- filtering and synthesis required internal resistance

– senior ranks unwilling to cede power to lower and middle levels

– generational preferences of political and bureaucratic leaders can the potential of e-government survive the lag?

ICTs – Potential Policy UsesICTs – Potential Policy Uses

potential uses in public policy information gathering information dissemination

– gov’ts sceptical re: info gathering function– gov’ts eager re: info dissemination– WHY?

ICTs, Information Dissemination, ICTs, Information Dissemination, and Public Policyand Public Policy

spin– speed– targetability– unmediated contact with public

media is disintermediated!

legitimacy without transparency

e-Governmente-Government

External Resistance and ConstraintsExternal Resistance and Constraints

Public Perceptions of the InternetPublic Perceptions of the Internet

favourable– maintaining favourable public perceptions will

require that government deal with two potential problems...

External Constraints/ResistanceExternal Constraints/Resistance

public perception of the perilspublic perception of the perils the “digital divide”the “digital divide”

Public Perception of PerilsPublic Perception of Perils

security/privacysecurity/privacychoice and coercionchoice and coercionaccountabilityaccountability

Public Perception of Perils – Public Perception of Perils – Security and PrivacySecurity and Privacy““Privacy and security are not just hurtles to Privacy and security are not just hurtles to

portal expansion; they are potential brick portal expansion; they are potential brick walls.”walls.” Deloitte, 2000Deloitte, 2000

Public Perception of Perils – Public Perception of Perils – Security and PrivacySecurity and Privacye-government and data compilatione-government and data compilation

to offer servicesto offer services however, incentives for other uses!however, incentives for other uses!

security and privacy concerns become greater security and privacy concerns become greater as governments move across e-government as governments move across e-government continuumcontinuum

Public Perception of Perils – Public Perception of Perils – Security and PrivacySecurity and Privacye-government and data compilatione-government and data compilationsecurity and privacy concerns become greater security and privacy concerns become greater

as governments move across e-government as governments move across e-government continuumcontinuum

technology can be used to increase security technology can be used to increase security and privacyand privacy– electronic monitoring of information accesselectronic monitoring of information access

what will matter is how these factors play outwhat will matter is how these factors play out

Public Perception of Perils – Public Perception of Perils – Choice and CoercionChoice and Coercionperception of coercion may generate perception of coercion may generate

backlash/resistancebacklash/resistance

Public Perception of Perils -- Public Perception of Perils -- AccountabilityAccountabilityrequirements for advanced services fit well requirements for advanced services fit well

with New Public Managementwith New Public Management– focus on results rather than processfocus on results rather than process– ““let the managers manage”let the managers manage”

HOWEVER...HOWEVER...– shares the same political vulnerability as NPMshares the same political vulnerability as NPM– what happens when things what happens when things screw upscrew up??– who will be held responsible for failures in widely-who will be held responsible for failures in widely-

shared e-government servicesshared e-government services


public perception of the perilspublic perception of the perils– what will determine how e-government proceeds is what will determine how e-government proceeds is

the timing and unfolding of the politics of the timing and unfolding of the politics of government-public interactiongovernment-public interaction


public perception of the perilspublic perception of the perils the “digital divide”the “digital divide”

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

the gap between those who have access to the the gap between those who have access to the Internet and those who do notInternet and those who do not

““...Internet access is segmented heavily along social ...Internet access is segmented heavily along social class, educational and generational lines.”class, educational and generational lines.”

Ekos Research 1998Ekos Research 1998 highest income household five times more likely to use highest income household five times more likely to use

the Internet than those in lowest income householdsthe Internet than those in lowest income householdsStatistics Canada 1999Statistics Canada 1999

concerns regarding exclusion become greater concerns regarding exclusion become greater as governments move across e-government as governments move across e-government continuumcontinuum

Digital DivideDigital Divide

MAIN POINTS...MAIN POINTS...– differences in penetration rates are differences in penetration rates are largelarge– however, they are however, they are decliningdeclining

Government Policies to Address Government Policies to Address the Digital Divide the Digital Divide Connecting CanadiansConnecting Canadians

– SchoolNetSchoolNet Internet access of all schools in CanadaInternet access of all schools in Canada achieved 1999achieved 1999

– LibraryNetLibraryNet providing public access to the Internet through public providing public access to the Internet through public

librarieslibraries

– Community Access ProgramCommunity Access Program free public access to the Internet in public spacesfree public access to the Internet in public spaces

The Digital Divide...Significance The Digital Divide...Significance for e-Governmentfor e-Governmentsize and nature of dividesize and nature of divide

– at what levels will the gaps come to restat what levels will the gaps come to rest will depend in part on other factorswill depend in part on other factors

– literacyliteracy

– income inequalityincome inequality

– educational opportunityeducational opportunity

– what level of gaps are acceptablewhat level of gaps are acceptable

The Digital DivideThe Digital Dividesize and nature of dividesize and nature of divide is e-government any more exclusive than is e-government any more exclusive than

traditional methods of political participation?traditional methods of political participation?– who is currently excluded? How?who is currently excluded? How?

will the e-excluded constitute powerful will the e-excluded constitute powerful resistance?resistance?

low incomelow income low educational attainmentlow educational attainment elderlyelderly

e-government internal effects – the policy implications march 11, 2002

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