Part I - The Three Phases of E-Government

E-government is not simply a matter of giving government officials computers or automating old practices. Neither the use of computers nor the automation of complex procedures can bring about greater effectiveness in government or promote civic participation. Focusing solely on technological solutions will not change the mentality of bureaucrats who view the citizen as neither a customer of government nor a participant in decision-making.

Understood correctly, e-government utilizes technology to accomplish reform by fostering transparency, eliminating distance and other divides, and empowering people to participate in the political processes that affect their lives.

Governments have different strategies to build e-government. Some have created comprehensive long-term plans. Others have opted to identify just a few key areas as the focus of early projects. In all cases, however, the countries identified as most successful have begun with smaller projects in phases on which to build a structure.

To assist policymakers in devising their own plans and initiatives, this handbook divides the process of e-government implementation into three phases. These phases are not dependent on each other, nor need one phase be completed before another can begin, but conceptually they offer three ways to think about the goals of e-government. The three phases are Publish, Interact and Transact.

Next: Publish