E-Government

Under E -Government ( German: e- Government ) in the broad sense refers to the simplification and implementation of processes for information, communication and transactions within and between state, municipal and other governmental institutions and between these institutions and citizens and businesses through the use of digital information and communication technologies.

E -Government thus summarizes e- administration and e-democracy together.

• 3.1 Disadvantages for citizens
• 3.2 Disadvantages for authorities

Conditions

Socio-cultural

The introduction of e-government in Germany is currently hampered by a lack of user acceptance and heterogeneous ICT equipment ( software, hardware, network access ) as well as user - group formation, determined by age, income, education and place of residence.

Organizational

A successful implementation of e -government requires a customized structure and process organization within the government.

It has been shown that a particular functional classification eGovernment disabled while process orientation is conducive.

Legally

For the introduction of e-government but also legal basis must be created. Strict procedural requirements ( for example, forced to sign instead of PIN / TAN procedure ), strict protection and a rigid civil service law limit the possibilities of e-government.

The form of government plays a role. In states arise frequently incompatible point solutions or unnecessary multiple development in individual administrations will take place in parallel. In addition, the marketing of e -government services is more effective if it can be organized centrally.

Technically

Media breaks through heterogeneous information and communication technologies impede e-government as well as the sometimes high costs of these techniques.

The absence of necessary techniques involves the risk is not sufficient to detect potential of any services. Techniques are not purchased because of the underestimation of the potential.

Economically

A significant for policy, public administration and the citizens as taxpayers topic is the economics of e-government. This objective calls on the federal level, "E -Government 2.0 - The program of the Federal " in its motto: " Efficient - Safe - networked ". Studies at the local level that only 13 percent of German municipalities determine the profitability of their IT-/E-Government-Vorhaben systematically.

Some methods for economic analysis are, for example eGOV calculator, Standard Cost Model (SCM ) and economic considerations ( WiBe ).

Benefits of E -Government

For the citizens is the main advantage that it can be in better contact with the authorities. This is especially for the EU, with its 502 million citizens in 28 Member States is crucial. The technical progress in particular by the Internet enables new communication and interaction. The citizen has the advantage that information from the authorities "around the clock " are achievable and also the communication possibilities are greatly expanded. For him, eliminating the need often time-consuming way. At the same time the authorities by these new technological possibilities many processes are simplified and often automated, so that more capacity for special cases are available, which in turn benefits the citizens. At the same time the transparency of authority is increased because individual processing steps or information channels for citizens to be better recognized ( reducing corruption ). The fact that the citizens are more easily accessible information, the political decision-making process is supported and achieved greater participation, such as online voting. This leads to a general strengthening of democracy. This is particularly important for countries in the EU is of great importance, in which information was previously not readily available, such as countries of the former Eastern Bloc. The aim is to promote the European availability of information and services in the European Union social inclusion and integration, thus enabling the convergence of Europe.

Also for the economy within the European Union arising from e -Government key advantages. The faster and more effective by various authorities leads to big savings. This strengthens both the individual companies, as well as the entire European Economic Area in the international competition. Also, be encouraged by the ever- available public services free movement of goods and freedom of establishment and support.

Apart from these considerable benefits for citizens and business community, is a non -negligible advantage also for the authorities: the cost savings. Through new electronic and automated processes are often time and therefore money employees. The Federal Government alone account when implementing its BundOnline 2005 with annual cost savings of approximately 400 million euros, with a total investment of 1.65 billion euros. This would mean that the introduction of e -government services would pay for itself in about four years.

Disadvantages of E -Government

In addition to the above advantages, has e-government and disadvantages. Distinction must be made between disadvantages for citizens and disadvantages for the authorities.

Disadvantages for citizens

Major concerns of citizens addressing privacy: It is feared people's privacy would not be protected enough and the citizens would thus be to transparent people. Furthermore, would the communication between authorities and citizens are impersonal, the citizens would be a contact person missing.

In the context of online searches is, especially when proprietary software is distributed to the citizens in e-government, as is the case with the MAGPIE - process, the risk that Trojan software is installed by the State on the PCs of citizens. According to a press release from August 2007 of the Bavarian Data Protection Commissioner such concerns in the population are to be feared.

Also, problems for people without asking PC or PC knowledge dar.

Disadvantages for authorities

One drawback for the authorities would be the additional security costs. To protect the data and hence the privacy of the people with security measures should be taken, which would entail additional costs. A further disadvantage would be the function of the system used.

Levels of interaction

The following are the levels of interaction in e-government:

Sender and addressee

The enormous range of e -government services can be distinguished and divided sense to the sender and receiver base. As a state sender be divided into:

• European Union
• Waistband
• Countries
• Municipalities

The users of e -government services can be divided into:

• Citizens (Government to Citizen)
• Companies (Government to Business )
• State institutions themselves ( Government to Government )

Science and Research

E -Government is an important field of science management computer science. It is necessary to address the technical aspect, mostly to provide appropriate software solutions. Especially pay attention to the increased data security and the possibility of archiving and tracking of processes in this context. Especially the above mentioned implementation of electronic signature is a controversial but worthy of discussion area. Another aspect is the creation of interoperability between institutions, institutions, countries and states within Europe. In current projects ( for example R4eGov, eGovRTD2020, DEMO_net, BRITE, RafEG, SAGA, eLoGo ) deals, inter alia, the harmonization of concepts, adaptation of systems and the associated creation of interoperability. In order to expand the results of this work on a European level, the EU has been the center for semantic interoperability launched (English: Semantic Interoperability Centre Europe, in short: SEMIC.EU ). Projects will be funded by the EU makes the scope of these efforts significantly. Another area that is being explored is the willingness to use e-government. Of particular interest is the increase in the participation of vulnerable groups. To this end, the multinational ELOST study is ( eGovernment for low socio -economic status groups) performed on the policy plans and strategies relating to the introduction of e- Government services for the socially disadvantaged, which is funded by the EU.

The European Union conducts an annual survey of e-government offerings in the individual EU Member States. The Republic of Austria was able to call themselves European champions in terms of e-government as in the past few years again in 2009. The electronic record ( electronic file ) is in Austria a key element in the national e -government strategy and allows citizens a one- stop government.

Once a year, the research presented in the field of e-government on the MEMO conference at the University of Münster. The conference, organized by the University of Münster, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities and the German County Association meeting promoted knowledge sharing among government agencies, research and industry, and thus satisfies the growing demand for well-founded methods of administrative modernization.