A Review of Electronic Governance in Public Administration

 

Electronic governance, also known as E-governance, involves the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in public administration. With the application of relevant and recent technology, E-governance aids governments in transitioning into a mode of governance that fosters efficiency, accountability, and transparency.

Notably, E-governance enables the publication of government-related information on government websites or portals, making government administration more accessible and transparent. When adopted into the political and administrative structures, the new system increases the effectiveness of various government institutions.

E-governance also plays an important role in achieving accountability in government by enabling efficient use of information management platforms and providing performance monitoring tools. This ensures that government employees are closely monitored and have a sense of accountability. For instance, sophisticated analytics and data integration can combine data from various information systems, providing decision-makers with new perspectives on how to run the civil service.

Similarly, integrated analytics and data integration can indicate patterns or signs of discrimination, nepotism, bias, waste, and fraud in the civil service. Consequently, when governments combine payroll data with HR data, it assists auditors in getting rid of ghost workers or other redundancies.

By using electronic tools like the internet and mobile connectivity, e-governance aims to facilitate and ensure good governance while guaranteeing public engagement. The use of ICT alters how people interact with the government in the same way that it alters how people interact with one another. It can influence the nation's democratic processes. For instance, by making the voting process less tedious and seamless, ICT can determine whether or not people will participate in elections.

Further, with social media, government websites, and portals, the adoption of e-governance makes the interaction between the government and the public easier. However, it is important to note that there are four dynamics to government interaction regarding e-governance.

The G2C (Government to Citizens) interaction is a form of interaction that centers on communication between citizens and government. This kind of interaction brings the government closer to the citizens. Because the people know who to hold accountable, it makes it easier for them to access basic public amenities and services. It also increases the quality of services while increasing accessibility to amenities provided by the government, making the government more hospitable to the people.

On the other hand, G2B, known as Government to Business interaction, utilizes e-governance systems, enabling the business community to communicate with the government. This interaction seeks to reduce official bureaucracy and speed up operations, saving money. Additionally, it will make doing business with the government more transparent. G2B initiatives support services like licensing, purchasing, obtaining permits, and tax collection.

Similarly, G2G, also known as government-to-government interaction, is a type of interaction that ensures smooth contact and interaction between different governmental organizations. Such interactions can occur between government agencies across the various tiers of government.

Finally, G2E or Government to Employees refers to the interaction between the government and its workers. ICT tools make these exchanges quick and effective, ensuring that employees are satisfied and happy with the working conditions provided by the government.