Governance and Information Technology

Eds, Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and David Lazer

For LIS 2186 by Katie Ingersoll, Bryan Carnes, and Brian Taylor

Global Perspectives on E-Government Chapter 2 – by Darrell M. West

Photo by: flickr user edge211 ; http://www.flickr.com/photos/nn_sf/3157497627

“The most optimistic vision… is that the integration of new … ICT into government will

result in a radical

disjuncture of

business as

usual…

The reality falls

short of these utopian visions.” -

- Darrell M. West, p. 30

Photo by flickr user Ed Bierman, http://www.flickr.com/photos/edbier

man/2858105794/

Compares global E-government in terms of :

Online InformationOnline Government Services

Obstacles include:

Internet connectivityCitizen’s privacy concerns

Government resources

North America and Asia have the most extensive e-

government development

Case Study: Firstgov.gov, the United States’ web portal (now USA.gov)

Challenges to Organizational Change : Multi-Level Integrated Information

Structures (MIIS) Chapter 4 - by Jane E. Fountain

“It is now eminently clear that the chief challenge for government is not the implementation of new technologies; it is organizational change required to develop more productive workflows. “-Jane Fountain, p 64

Multi-level Integrated Information System

• Formalized Overarching Norms

• Accountability, legislative frameworks

• Budget Processes

Institutionalized Government Processes

• Interorganizational routines

• Governance, communication, task structures

• Division of labor and specialization

Public organizations and

InterorganizationalNetworks

• Informal Norms

• Professional Networks

• Formed and influenced by individuals

Ongoing Social Relations Social

Network Interactions

Adapted from figure on p. 82

Case Study: E-government in Singapore

eCitizen – Singapore’s portal for citizens

Weak Democracy Strong Information: The Role of Information Technology in

the Rulemaking ProcessChapter 5 - by Cary Coglianese

Direct strategies to Legitimize rulemaking

by unelected bodies:

Strong DemocracyInterest Group Pluralism

Technology is more likely to bring about pluralism than true strong democracy

Photo by Flickr user pasukaru76 http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/3629601725/

Case Study : The EPA’s EDOCKET site

Now regulations from all agencies are at: regulations.gov

Freedom of Information and Electronic Government

Chapter 6 by Herbert Berkert

Transparency is:

-Essential to democracy

- At odds with current e-commerce paradigm in e-government

Focus should shift to general transparency and information available in a variety of forms

Requirements for Freedom Information Legislation

• General public’s access is the rule, not the exception.• Clearly defined privacy policies and protection• Clearly defined time limits for the government to answer request• Information holders must be held responsible for making their

information accessible to the citizenry• Broad technical definitions of information objects, access facilitated

by technology• If a document has portions that are exempt from access, citizens

should still be able to access the nonexempt portions• The requester chooses the format• Costs are based solely on operational administration• Refusal of access subject to judicial review• Centralized monitoring of administrations

Other Obstacles:

“Pendulum swing” of societal desired for public secrecy

Necessity of vibrant civil organizations requesting and presenting information

Movement of public data into the private sector.

Photo by Flickr user hughelectronichttp://www.flickr.com/photos/hughelectronic/4095694755/

EFF lawyers Marcia Hoffman and Nate Cardozo celebrate the arrival of two large boxes full of government documents relating to telecom immunity.

Case Study – Marc Rotenberg and the Electronic Privacy Information Center

Socio-Technologies of Assembly: Sense Making and Demonstration in Lower Manhattan

Chapter 7 – by Monique Girard and David Stark

Collaborative projects aided by technology:

-Rebuilding and development of lower Manhattan

-Information about air quality health issues in Manhattan after 9/11

“New Yorkers deployed new technologies not only to increase the flow of information among a greater number of nodes but to build communities of interpretation. “ -p. 171