Archived document - Public Sector Commission - The Western ...

e-Government Strategy for the Western Australian Public Sector
Understanding e-Government
8
What is e-Government
e-Government involves focusing on the use of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) to assist in the transformation of
government structures and operations for cooperative and integrated
service delivery. If the technology does not result in better outcomes for
citizens and agencies it will mean nothing more than an added cost to
government – a cost that government is increasingly being asked to
account for by its citizens.
e-Government can be defined as the comprehensive application of
Information and Communications Technology to government services.
‘What starts out as a technical
exercise aimed at developing
more responsive programs and
services therefore becomes an
exercise in governance.’
Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development,
(2003), The e-Government Imperative,
www.oecd.org
e-Government can be defined as
the comprehensive application
of Information and
Communications Technology to
government services
This definition challenges the misconception that e-government is simply
about developing more ICT projects across government. Certainly, if
agencies are to operate effectively in the global environment of the 21st
century and improve their decision-making, services, communication and
participation with Western Australians, then improvements in the
application and use of ICT is involved. However, this represents only part
of the e-government picture. Getting the very best out of new technology
means we must develop a culture of innovation, not just automation 1 .
1 Central IT Unit, United Kingdom Government, (2000), e-government A Strategic Framework for PublicServices in the Information Age, www.e-envoy.gov.uk