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Questions and Answers
What are the three possible approaches to e-government management?
What are the responsibilities involved in eGovernment systems planning?
Setting priorities for new e-government systems, applications of new IT, and other systems-related changes.
Centralized decisions for e-government systems are taken at lower levels within the organization.
False
Under a centralized approach, e-government systems are typically developed by a team from the _____ IT unit.
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Match the following constraints to centralized approaches in e-government systems:
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What is a common constraint to centralized approaches in public sector organizations due to financial constraints?
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Which of the following is a reason senior staff may not be involved in centralized approaches?
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What is a challenge to centralized approaches in the public sector due to staffing constraints?
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In the US, which agency was responsible for covering audit in IT-based systems?
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What is a consequence of divided responsibilities between functional units in public sector organizations?
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What is a characteristic of centralized approaches in public sector organizations?
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What is a limitation of centralized approaches in the public sector due to skills and awareness?
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What is a constraint to centralized approaches in the public sector due to management systems and structures?
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Why may staff be too busy to work on centralized approaches?
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What is a challenge to implementing centralized approaches in the public sector?
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Study Notes
Approaches to Management of eGovernment Systems
- eGovernment systems involve managing data, technology, people, and processes.
- There are three possible approaches to eGovernment management: centralized, decentralized, and hybrid.
eGovernment Management Responsibilities
- eGovernment systems planning involves setting priorities for new eGovernment systems, applications of new IT, and systems-related changes.
- Organizational structures and staffing involve supporting the eGovernment function and staffing.
- Data management involves structuring and controlling data in the organization.
- Computing and data management architecture involves spreading and connecting IT throughout the organization and dividing data structures and processing across IT.
- Systems development involves analyzing, designing, constructing, and implementing new eGovernment systems.
- Procurement involves procuring IT for eGovernment.
- Training involves delivering skills required for eGovernment.
- Technical support involves installing, maintaining, repairing, and supporting IT for eGovernment.
Centralized Approach to eGovernment Systems
- Decisions are taken at the most senior or central level.
- Involves a centralized computing architecture with a large central computer and dumb terminals or network computers attached.
- Involves centralized data architecture with a single central web location through which all data is routed to users.
- eGovernment systems are developed by a team from the central IT unit or by external contractors under central IT unit control.
- Training is planned and prioritized organization-wide to fit in with eGovernment plans.
- Technical support is delivered by external providers or specialist staff from the central IT unit.
Potential Benefits of a Centralized Approach
- Avoids duplication of effort, storage capacity, and inconsistent data.
- Shares resources across the organization, allowing for easier access to data.
- Reduces costs by having a single version of eGovernment systems and storing data once.
Constraints to Centralized Approaches
- Information, technology, and process constraints include changes to the organization's information systems architecture.
- Objectives and values constraints involve differences between the objectives and values of particular groups in the public sector.
- Staffing and skills constraints include limited resources of money, time, people, and skills.
- Management systems and structures constraints involve existing division of responsibilities between different functional units.
Potential Disadvantages of Centralized Approaches
- Heavy time consumption due to information flowing up the organization and collating information from different locations.
- Inflexibility in coping with differences between local units or internal/external changes.
- Increased dependence and vulnerability due to reliance on single management units and key staff.
Approaches to Management of eGovernment Systems
- Managing e-government systems involves handling data, technology, people, and processes.
- There are three possible approaches to e-government management: centralized, decentralized, and hybrid.
eGovernment Management Responsibilities
- eGovernment systems planning: prioritizing new e-government systems, applications of new IT, and systems-related changes.
- Organizational structures and staffing: setting up organizational structures to support the e-government function and staffing that function.
- Data management: structuring and controlling data in the organization.
- Computing and data management architecture: spreading and connecting IT throughout the organization and dividing data structures and processing across IT.
- Systems development: analyzing, designing, constructing, and implementing new e-government systems.
- Procurement: acquiring IT and managing the procurement process.
- Training: identifying required skills, delivering training, and determining who needs training.
- Technical support: installing, maintaining, repairing, and supporting IT for e-government.
Centralized Approach to eGovernment Systems
- Decisions are taken at the most senior or central level.
- Examples of centralized approaches include computing and data management architecture with a large central computer and dumb terminals or network computers attached.
- Centralized data architecture involves portals: single central web locations through which all data is routed to users.
Benefits of a Centralized Approach
- Sharing resources: allowing all staff to access data, making it cheaper, faster, and easier to undertake organization-wide activities.
- Central planning and operation enable compatible technology and skills to be introduced.
- Exchange of hardware, software, and staff between organizational systems and units becomes easier and less costly.
Constraints to Centralized Approaches
- Information, Technology, and Process Constraints: decentralized information systems may need to be changed, and new data fields, formats, hardware, and software may be required.
- Objectives and Values Constraints: centralization may result in changes to resource flows, leading to resistance from staff who perceive themselves as potential resource losers.
- Staffing and Skills, and Other Resources Constraints: centralized approaches require the commitment of resources like money, time, people, and skills, which may be in short supply in the public sector.
- Management Systems and Structures Constraints: existing division of responsibilities between different functional units or agencies within government can constrain centralized approaches.
The 'IT Square' of Gaps between Different Public Sector Staff Cultures
- Politicians: have limited understanding of IT, want quick and visible results, and may resist large-scale centralized approaches.
- Senior public managers: have limited understanding of IT or its possible uses, may resist centralized approaches due to fear of lack of control.
- IT professionals: do not understand the public organization's business, and are only interested in technology.
- Mainstream staff: can be divided into computer illiterates, computer literates, and semi-literates, each with their own challenges and resistance to centralized approaches.
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Description
This quiz covers the approaches to managing e-government systems, including centralized, decentralized, and hybrid models. Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of each approach.
