E-Government Systems: Centralized Approach

Responsibilities in a Centralized Approach

• In a centralized approach, e-government systems are typically developed by a team from the central IT unit or by external contractors under central IT unit control.
• The content and timing of individual projects are drawn from an e-government strategy that guides procurement.
• Training is planned and prioritized organization-wide to fit in with e-government plans, and may be delivered by external providers or specialist staff from the central IT unit.

Potential Benefits of a Centralized Approach

• Avoidance of duplication: having a single version of e-government systems and storing data once and only once, eliminating wasted effort, capacity, and inconsistent data.
• Example: only one accounting application needs to be developed for the whole agency, and each client's details are captured once for use on a single, shared database.
• Sharing resources: a well-planned centralized system allows all staff to access data, making it cheaper, faster, and easier to undertake organization-wide activities.

Constraints to Centralized Approaches

Information, Technology, and Process Constraints

• Barriers to centralization arise when decentralized information systems are already in place, requiring changes to the organization's information systems architecture.

Objectives and Values Constraints

• Centralization means changes in flows of resources, which can be resisted by public managers who perceive themselves as potential resource losers.
• Staff may resist surrendering control over data, making it a particular problem in the public sector where fighting over limited resources is common.

Staffing and Skills, and Other Resources Constraints

• Centralized approaches require commitment of four key resources: money, time, people, and skills, which are often in short supply in the public sector.
• Financial constraints, busy staff, lack of confidence or capabilities, and skills and awareness gaps can make centralized approaches impossible.

Management Systems and Structures Constraints

• Existing division of responsibilities between different functional units within a public sector organization or different agencies within government can constrain centralized approaches.
• Example: in the US, responsibility for IT-based systems was traditionally divided between four agencies, restricting both the potential for and effectiveness of centralized approaches to e-government.

This quiz covers the centralized approach to e-government systems, including development, content, and training. It explores the role of the central IT unit and external contractors in implementing e-government strategies.