E-government. Does the word strike fear in your heart? It does for me because of the myriad of ways the term is bandied about and because for some, it seems to be the sole measure of a government IT shop's success.
For many, e-government means that the government agency has a Web site. The degree to which that Web site is interactive and allows the public to network to obtain services over the Internet is the benchmark for how "electronic" your government really is. Of course.
You see, the true definition of e-government is how well it utilises technology to improve the productivity of its workers as they serve the public in their particular capacities. I think you can lump most government agencies into one of four categories.
The four categories of e-government organisations
Category I — Snazzy on the outside, ugly on the inside
There are some government organisations that have superb Web sites that provide excellent functionality — but don't look behind the curtain, because to gaze there is like staring back into the Stone Age: slow and under-performing networks, low-quality or non-existent end-user support, aging systems, poor security, antiquated applications, unresponsive technology management, etc.How can this be? Quite simply, the powers that be have decided to invest in only those areas that are visible to the public. If the Web site looks sophisticated, then all the other operations must be too — that is the kind of thinking that goes into this decision. However, while the Web site might look slick, security best practices may be non-existent. Because of poor protection against virus threats, for example, the network is compromised, resulting in significant downtime and a waste of money. As you know, a glitzy front door does not mean the shop is in order behind it.
Category II — Not much to look at, but lots of heart
Conversely, there are those e-governments who have a very plain Web presence, but are using technology in sophisticated and dynamic ways behind the scenes, such as:- Well-managed and high performing networks
- Superior customer service
- Established IT governance and portfolio management
- Implementation of effective and smooth running applications that support the core business of the departments, such as: mobile data terminals in police, fire, and EMS vehicles, advanced jail management systems, superior ERP installations, etc.
Talkback
MAKE RIGHT TO INFORMATION A REALITY
----------------------------------------------------------
Make 'Right to Information' a reality for the Government as well as citizens and improve e-Governance, by using 'e-Administration', a web enabled, platform neutral, paper-less
communication solution, developed using open source tools (J2EE, JBOSS, Postgre SQL as backend, all running on Linux Platform), for intra-office and inter-office communication, for anytime / anywhere access.
The tool is developed by Life Line to Business (LL2B. COM), a Chennai, Tamil Nadu basd ICT organization with vast hands-on experience in Administration and ICT.
The tool follows the Tottenham system of Administration, followed in Governments and has been implemented in Government organizations in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. It can be used by any organization for total tracking of all communications - tapals and files.
Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), a Government of Tamil Nadu Undertaking, is using the tool for the last 18 months. Commissionerate of Treasuries and Accounts, Chennai is using the tool successfully for the last 3 months (more than 3,150 letters have been scanned and taken into the electronic system for file creation and about 1,750 files have been electronically created including past G.Os databank link and draft submitted for approval and returned directly to the dealing officer.
The tool is a transparency and accountability tool. Dept. of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Govt. of India has already recognised the implementation of 'e-Administration' by ELCOT, Chennai by giving an award in the 7th National e-Governance Conference held in Nov. 2003.
The Hindu, The Hindu Business Line, The New Indian Express, The Financial Express, The Economic Times, The Business Standard, The DQ Week, The Digit Magazine, India Together, etc. have brought out articles on the unique initiatives of LL2B. COM. The reviews can be seen at http://ll2b.blogspot.com and World bank's Development Gateway.
The tool has been recently adopted as an official tool by the International Transparency and Accountability Network (Tr-Ac Net) to introduce Transparency and Accountability in Governments, corporates, NGOs and in general in communities and society to create a level playing field.
For more details or for a presentation, contact:
Kris Dev (Krishnan V D G)
President & CEO
Life Line to Business
LL2B. COM Private Limited,
B4, Ashok Suparna,
27/12, III Main Road,
Kasturiba Nagar, Adyar,
Chennai-600020, Tamil Nadu.
(044) 5211 5995 / 5698.
krisdev_at_gmail.com
http://ll2b.blogspot.com.