Dear Colleagues, Pamela McLean's message was very helpful as I sit here in New Delhi, about to head out to rural, very poor areas near Lucknow and Kanpur, and am trying to figure out how to introduce ICT to the State (rather than local) government, but with the same objectives as those Pam listed (below) in her message. The major problem I think we confront is the "back office" operations and politics. Introducing rational, data-based decision-making is far from popular among those with power. It's not so much that those in power are uncomfortable with technology (their kids probably already have computers), it's more that they fear loss of power and bribe money. So we confront the problem of "re-engineering" to improve the decision-making process. My own experience -- plus what I've read -- suggests that the usual platitude "re-engineer the back office before automating or you just do the wrong things faster" may be wrong. It can take so long to bring about those basic reforms that nothing happens, or people get discouraged from trying to use ICT for anything. I'm coming to think that it is better to introduce ICTs where they can offer some benefit, and simultaneously work toward the "process reform" (code words for reducing corruption) and also finding some kind of incentive for those who will inevitably lose both power and money from the introduction of a data-based decision-making system. I'd be interested in others' experience in this regard.
Again in terms of introducing e-government to States in India, we're also looking at ways to measure the impact on performance. My own sense is that it's useful to use the standard approaches, e.g., Accenture's annual reports on e-government, the US "Grading the States" report <http://results.gponline.org>, and Canada's system (considering Accenture calls them the world leader in e-government), and the reports of the Center for Digital Government (in the US). I'd be interested in others' experience with measuring impact of e-government. Thanks, janice Janice Brodman Director Center for Innovative Technologies EDC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On 5/31/05, Pam McLean wrote: > I'm assuming you want: > > * Effective use of ICTs/digital technologies at the district > headquarters, so that the administration is efficient, appropriate and > transparent. > * Improved communication "upwards and across" with central government > and other district offices > * Improved communication and administration of local services such as > health and education. > * Improved communication and administration regarding individuals in the > districts you serve. > * Maximum local economic benefit i.e. investments in ICTs should as far > as possible impact positively on the local economy rather than draining > resources to outside suppliers of goods and services. This means that > you should be looking carefully at developing such local provision. ------------ This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For past messages, see: http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/archive.html
