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2011 | Buch

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Transforming Government and Building the Information Society

Challenges and Opportunities for the Developing World

verfasst von: Nagy K. Hanna

Verlag: Springer New York

Buchreihe : Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

Information and communication technology (ICT) is central to reforming governance, innovating public services, and building inclusive information societies. Countries are learning to weave ICT into their strategies for transforming government as enterprises have learned to use ICT to innovate and transform their processes and competitive strategies. ICT-enabled transformation offers a new path to digital-era government that is responsive to the challenges of our time. It facilitates innovation, partnering, knowledge sharing, community organizing, local monitoring, accelerated learning, and participatory development.

In Transforming Government and Building the Information Society, Nagy Hanna draws on multi-disciplinary research on ICT in the public sector, and on his rich experience of over 35 years at the World Bank and other aid agencies, to identify the key ingredients for the strategic integration of ICT into governance and poverty reduction strategies. The author showcases promising practices from around the world to outline the strategic options involved in using ICT to maximize developmental impact—transforming government institutions and public services, and empowering communities for inclusion and grassroots innovation.

Despite the ICT promise, Hanna acknowledges that reforming governance and empowering poor communities are difficult long-term undertakings. Hanna moves beyond the imperatives and visions of e-transformation to strategic design and implementation options, and draws practical lessons for policymakers, reformers, innovators, community leaders, ICT specialists and development experts.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. An ICT-Transformed Government and Society

Abstract

The information and communication technology (ICT) revolution is shaping our world, public and private. It has created a new playing field for worldwide competition with an increasing premium for knowledge, learning, agility, and connectedness. It has made it possible to capture and deploy information and knowledge for all kinds of activity. It has also put innovation and ICT more than ever at the heart of smart development.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 2. Implications of the ICT Revolution

Abstract

This chapter explores some of the ways ICT is likely to impact social and economic development and points to the strategic significance of ICT for enabling national development and poverty reduction strategies. ICT offers many promises and opportunities, even while posing serious risks and uncertainties. Its impact is likely to be pervasive. Countries must fashion their own responses. Ad hoc or passive postures are likely to lead to increasing digital and economic divides, marginalization of poor, and increasingly costly and burdensome government that erodes economic competiveness.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 3. Transforming Government: Vision and Journey

Abstract

For a variety of reasons, public agencies at all levels are pressed to respond to growing challenges. e-Government provides powerful tools and new opportunities to address both old and new public sector challenges. The use of ICT can significantly improve the range and quality of public services to citizens and businesses while making government more efficient, effective, responsive, transparent, and accountable.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 4. Uses of e-Government

Abstract

Development challenges, best practices, and visions of the future should help define the broad objectives of public sector reforms and transformation. In turn, reform objectives should guide the process of transformation and the use of information technology to enable this transformation. Visions are intended to support coalition formation and mobilize demand for reforms. By deriving ICT uses from public sector reform objectives, governments may avoid supply-driven approaches and promote alignment between ICT investments and public sector reform and development objectives.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 5. Approaches to e-Government

Abstract

In the last two chapters, we introduced the imperatives for government transformation, the cutting-edge reforms of progressive government, and the visions that embody and motivate these reforms. We further illustrated the variety of e-government uses that may serve these visions and enable reform objectives.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 6. Managing Change and Innovation in Government

Abstract

In this chapter I touch on some of the key tools for strategic planning and management of ICT-enabled government innovation and transformation. The aim is to outline tools to facilitate change management, promote innovation in government, and bridge the gap between what is promised and what is delivered through e-government programs. There is a vast and growing literature on such tools. I only outline those tools of which policy makers should be aware to ensure they are appropriately deployed by program designers and managers. I offer a framework for mapping these tools on the strategic management process of e-government.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 7. Grassroots Innovation for the Information Society

Abstract

Some of the most promising uses of ICT for development are to empower poor communities through assess to local and global knowledge, building local capacity and partnerships, and enabling broad participation, grassroots innovation, social learning, and social accountability. I call ICT applications that are targeted for poor communities and poverty reduction, e-society, or e-transformation at the grassroots and among poor communities.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 8. Shared Access for the Networked Society

Abstract

Many developing countries must rely on shared-access models to ensure affordable connectivity and use of ICT tools (UNCTAD, 2003; Fillip and Foote, 2007). Community telecenters (also known as public Internet access points or PIAP, information centers, kiosks, cybercafé, and multipurpose telecenters) have increasingly become critical components of broader strategies to deliver universal access and extend connectivity to rural, disadvantaged, and remote areas in developing and transitional countries. Even more importantly, telecenters are emerging as vital development and poverty reduction platforms. They can serve as means to deliver government services to poor and rural regions, provide vital information and new business opportunities for SMEs, and enable community-driven development through enhancing participation and capacity building at the grassroots level.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 9. Toward a Holistic Approach to Government and Social Transformation

Abstract

This chapter proposes policies and programs to use e-government and e-society for public sector transformation and social inclusion that provide maximum impact only when integrated with other elements of e-development. A holistic approach to e-government and e-society develops the enabling policies and institutions that promote ICT adoption and diffusion. It raises public awareness and e-literacy at large, while investing in the specialized technical and leadership skills for a knowledge society. It also promotes local competencies and ICT services to support user-producer linkages and mutual learning for e-government and e-society. Additionally, it induces investment in extending and upgrading the information infrastructure for a competitive knowledge economy and an inclusive information society.

Nagy K. Hanna

Chapter 10. Lessons for Managing Implementation

Abstract

e-Transformation is a long-term challenge for all developing countries—a profound reform and change process that countries must undergo to both exploit the new opportunities arising form the ongoing technological revolution and cope with the imperatives of competing in an increasingly fast-paced, innovation-driven global economy. All countries are still at early stages of mastering this new techno-economic paradigm. Emerging experience in the design and implementation of national e-strategies shows that the development impact of ICT investments has varied as a function of many factors, and these factors should guide future directions.

Nagy K. Hanna

Backmatter

Titel: Transforming Government and Building the Information Society
verfasst von: Nagy K. Hanna
Verlag: Springer New York
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4419-1506-1
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1505-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1506-1