Contributions to the Development of Local e-Government 2.0
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- Improvement of public sector transparency: for example, by using content syndication and social media platforms to bring the public sector agenda and activities closer to citizens and provide news and information on the platforms preferred by citizens (who no longer need to go to the public entity website for this information). The concept of transparency is at the core of the application of Web 2.0 tools and social media for local governments. Governments are now facing unprecedented transparency requirements, further encouraged through electronic grassroots mobilizations using social technology [7]. Noveck [8] points out how information and its availability are key in this scenario of democratization. According to Noveck [8], making good information available to the general public for better governance is more important than the attention paid in the past to so-called “experts.”
- Improvement of policy making: new forms of participation, enabled by the use of ICTs, which improve social consciousness and citizen engagement. The evolution and popularity of social media has provided new techniques for online community engagement and additional avenues for consultation and interaction with citizens and communities in ways that can facilitate dialog, creativity, collaboration, and participation. All these citizen-to-citizen and citizen-to government dialogs can have many positive effects [9]: increasing interest in politics and citizen participation; expanding the number and types of participants; generating support for a position/project; and creating identity and trust. Blogs and social networking sites have been demonstrated to be powerful tools for political candidate fact-finding, spreading political gossip and communicating with a constituency or advocacy group quickly and efficiently [3]. These Web 2.0 technologies have the potential to increase citizen participation in political and public sector processes, including elections, policy development, and policy implementation.
- Improvement of public services: more innovative mechanisms for service delivery. As Osimo indicates [6], the application of these tools to the public sector can improve public service provision in the same way that companies share product design tasks with potential customers.
- Improvement of knowledge management and cross-agency cooperation, using specific groups in the context of these platforms in order to transform the relationships within the organizations and between different public entities.
2. The Case
2.1. Research Method
- Advantages in implementing the tools
- Principles, and care to be taken, in the implementation and/or functioning
- Contextual conditions for successful implementation and functioning.
- Advantages of the implementation;
- Care to be taken, and principles to be followed;
- Guarantees for appropriate functioning
2.2. Analysis and Conclusion
- RSS, You Tube/Flickr and Podcasts make useful information available about the autarchy;
- Social networks and Blogs are spaces where discussion topics and issues of interest for citizens can be put forward. They create a closer relationship between the different stakeholder groups;
- Wikis enable knowledge in various areas to be produced, they allow knowledge to be built and public services to be improved;
- Mashups enable the use of new technologies to be more profitable and new public services to be created.
- RSS, You Tube/Flickr, and Podcasts make useful information available about the autarchy;
- Social networks and Blogs are spaces where discussion topics and issues of interest for citizens can be put forward. They create a closer relationship between the different stakeholder groups;
- Wikis, besides allowing public services to be improved, enable the problems faced by those who perform those services to be better understood (they are more advantageous for their work);
- Mashups, like blogs and social networks, bring citizens closer to the autarchy.
- the main advantage of Wikis is the ability to build knowledge, and of Mashups it is the creation of new services; these opinions are shared by the Councilors.
- Regarding Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Podcasts, Social Networks, Youtube/Flickr, and Mashups, they favour creating a body responsible for interaction between services;
- Regarding Social Networks and Mashups, the principles to follow are promotion of social networks to citizens, and guaranteed support for them from the political sector (leader of council and councilors).
- With regard to Podcasts, Social Networks and Mashups, the focus is on guaranteeing support for them from the political sector (leader of council and councilors);
- With regard to Blogs, Wikis, RSS and YouTube/Flickr, they refer mainly to their promotion to citizens.
- For all the tools, it is very important to promote them to citizens, as well as creating a body responsible for interaction between services.
- Blogs—Clear definition of aims of implementation and Discussion topics to be put forward
- Wikis—Validity of information published;
- RSS—Adaptation of language to target audience and use of neutral terms, avoiding conflict or division between citizens and/or councils;
- YouTube/Flickr—Strict rules of use and attractive/accessible contents;
- Podcasts—Accessible/credible information;
- Social Networks—Promotion of local networks on local issues;
- Mashups—Accesible/appropriate language, qualified team and appropriate leadership.
- Blogs—Protection against incorrect use of blog and data protection;
- Wikis—Integration of various internal professional profiles;
- RSS—Verification of suitability for users and use of neutral terms, avoiding conflict or division between citizens and/or councils;
- YouTube/Flickr—Strict rules of use and attractive/accessible contents;
- Podcasts—Accessible/credible information;
- Social Networks—Promotion of local networks on local issues;
- Mashups—Accessible and appropriate language;
- IST(Information Systems Technicians);
- Blogs—Clear definition of aims of implementation and data protection;
- Wikis—Service availability (platforms) and vvalidity of information published;
- RSS—Verification of suitability for users YouTube/Flickr—Strict rules of use and attractive/accessible contents;
- Podcasts—Accessible/credible information;
- Social Networks—Promotion of local networks on local issues;
- Mashups—Accessible and appropriate language We can state that, according to the survey sample all the tools seem relevant and interesting in terms of their possible implementation in the councils concerned.
- Clearly identify the proposed aims, supported with organizational strategic orientation;
- Integrate different professional specialists;
- Guarantee data protection and privacy, as well as the credibility and reliability of the information made available;
- Give prompt and competent responses to all the types of technical demands required by each tool to guarantee the reliability and interest of the information provided.
3. Conclusions
Appendix
Motivation/Interest | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
---|---|---|---|
For the public to be interested in the use of blogs, these should have the following advantages (choose up to 5 advantages): | |||
Interaction between councils | 33% | 0% | 33% |
Interaction with citizens | 33% | 60% | 83% |
Creation of spaces for discussion of matters of people’s interest | 100% | 20% | 83% |
Participation of citizens in discussions | 33% | 80% | 67% |
Exchange of information between councils | 67% | 60% | 50% |
Easier communication between councils and citizens | 67% | 60% | 50% |
Real-time discussions | 0% | 0% | 17% |
Greater openness of kinds of information exchanged | 33% | 60% | 67% |
Promotion of communication between professional classes, internally | 33% | 0% | 50% |
Implementation | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For the implementation of a blog to work and fulfil its aims, which principles should be followed or what care should be taken: | |||
Promotion of Blog among citizens | 33% | 83% | 83% |
Previous interaction with citizens | 33% | 17% | 17% |
Creation of body responsible for interaction between services | 100% | 67% | 67% |
Guaranteed support for blog from political sector (leader of council, councillors etc) | 33% | 33% | 33% |
Others (Which?) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Functioning | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For a blog to function appropriately, some conditions should be guaranteed (choose up to 4 conditions that you feel are most relevant) | |||
A–Regarding the profile characteristics of those responsible for the blog (Select those you feel are most relevant): | - | - | - |
Able to moderate | 67% | 20% | 33% |
Able to promote participation between councils and citizens | 100% | 80% | 83% |
Able to regulate all participation | 33% | 40% | 33% |
Know their public | 33% | 20% | 33% |
Know all the contexts involved | 33% | 20% | 50% |
Know the aims of the implementation of the blog | 33% | 0% | 50% |
B–Regarding the functioning process itself, this should guarantee: | - | - | - |
Clear definition of aims of implementation | 100% | 20% | 67% |
Discussion topics be put forward | 67% | 40% | 50% |
Continuation in discussions | 33% | 20% | 33% |
Protection against incorrect use of blog | 33% | 60% | 33% |
Data protection | 67% | 60% | 67% |
Compliance with legislation on use/functioning of blog | 67% | 0% | 17% |
Setting up/defining rules on use | 0% | 20% | 33% |
Adaptation of language for blog users | 0% | 0% | 17% |
Suitability of topics in terms of current relevance | 33% | 0% | 17% |
Suitability of topics in terms of interest | 33% | 40% | 17% |
Motivation/Interest | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
---|---|---|---|
For the public to be interested in the use of wikis, these should have the following advantages (choose up to 5 advantages): | |||
Enable knowledge to be built | 0% | 50% | 83% |
Enable knowledge in various areas to be produced | 67% | 0% | 33% |
Enable staff and agents to contribute to interpretation of information | 33% | 0% | 17% |
Enable functioning of services to improve | 33% | 50% | 67% |
Enable citizens to access interpretation of services on different topics | 0% | 50% | 50% |
Enable improvements in services to public | 67% | 75% | 50% |
Enable services that are often segmented to be connected | 0% | 50% | 33% |
Enable internal/external professionals from different areas to be in contact | 0% | 50% | 0% |
Facilitate acquisition of knowledge | 67% | 50% | 17% |
Clarify law decrees | 33% | 50% | 33% |
Improve knowledge of processes by those who carry them out and those who use them | 67% | 50% | 33% |
Implementation | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For the implementation of a wiki to work and fulfil its aims, which principles should be followed or what care should be taken: | |||
Promotion of wikis to citizens | 33% | 60% | 83% |
Previous interaction with citizens | 33% | 0% | 17% |
Creation of body responsible for interaction between services | 100% | 60% | 83% |
Guaranteed support for wiki from political sector (leader of council, councillors etc) | 33% | 40% | 33% |
Others (Which?) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Functioning | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For a wiki to function appropriately, some conditions should be guaranteed (choose up to 4 conditions that you feel are most relevant): | |||
A–Regarding the profile characteristics of those responsible for the wiki (Select the 4 you feel are most relevant): | - | - | - |
Able to moderate | 25% | 60% | 33% |
Able to promote participation between councils and citizens | 75% | 40% | 100% |
Able to regulate all participation | 50% | 40% | 50% |
Know their public | 25% | 0% | 17% |
Know all the contexts involved | 25% | 40% | 17% |
Know the aims of the implementation of the wiki | 75% | 20% | 50% |
Be a leader (credible) | 25% | 40% | 0% |
Know about the people involved internally and externally | 25% | 40% | 17% |
Give the one who implements the position of leader/boss | 25% | 20% | 50% |
B–Regarding the functioning process itself, this should guarantee: | - | - | - |
Few rules | 25% | 0% | 50% |
Creation of a network (functioning in network with staff) | 50% | 40% | 33% |
Integration of various internal professional profiles | 50% | 60% | 33% |
Availability of service (platforms) | 50% | 40% | 67% |
Validity of information published | 75% | 20% | 67% |
Motivation/Interest | Councillors | General staff | IS techicians |
---|---|---|---|
For the public to be interested in the use of Podcasts, these should have the following advantages (choose up to 3 advantages): | |||
Immediate access to information from public sessions | 67% | 60% | 83% |
Support for staff through dissemination of useful information for carrying out their activity | 0% | 0% | 33% |
Clarification of people’s doubts | 100% | 40% | 83% |
Improved transfer of decisions to citizens | 67% | 20% | 17% |
Implementation | Councillors | General staff | IS techicians |
For the implementation of a Podcast to work and fulfil its aims, which principles should be followed or what care should be taken: | |||
Promotion of RSS to citizens | 100% | 20% | 100% |
Previous interaction with citizens | 0% | 0% | 33% |
Creation of body responsible for interaction between services | 100% | 20% | 50% |
Guaranteed support for RSS from political sector (leader of council, councillors etc) | 100% | 60% | 50% |
Others (Which?) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Functioning | Councillors | General staff | IS techicians |
For a Podcast to function appropriately, some conditions should be guaranteed: | |||
A–Regarding the profile characteristics of those responsible for the RSS (Select those you feel are most relevant): | - | - | - |
Technically able Human Resources | 67% | 40% | 83% |
Like challenges/change and be a motivator | 33% | 40% | 50% |
Political leadership | 33% | 0% | 33% |
Link between team and public | 33% | 40% | 50% |
B–Regarding the functioning process itself, this should guarantee: | - | - | - |
Information that is: | - | - | - |
Simple/credible | 100% | 40% | 67% |
Attractive/ appealing | 33% | 0% | 50% |
Understandable/accessible by citizens | 67% | 40% | 100% |
Motivation/Interest | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
---|---|---|---|
For the public to be interested in the use of RSS, these should have the following advantages (choose up to 5 advantages): | |||
Free up time for other activities | 0% | 20% | 33% |
Provide up-to-date information on council activities | 100% | 60% | 67% |
Facilitate access to information at any time | 67% | 40% | 100% |
Inform citizens about useful ways to carry out certain tasks | 33% | 20% | 0% |
Increase citizens’ participation | 67% | 50% | 33% |
Promote involvement | 100% | 0% | 67% |
Increase accessibility for staff to information on life of council (greater knowledge about others) | 0% | 50% | 0% |
Provide useful information for staff on timing, or on how different tasks are carried out | 33% | 50% | 67% |
Bring councils and citizens closer | 33% | 25% | 67% |
Implementation | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For the implementation of an RSS to work and fulfil its aims, which principles should be followed or what care should be taken: | |||
Promotion of RSS to citizens | 100% | 40% | 100% |
Previous interaction with citizens | 33% | 20% | 17% |
Creation of body responsible for interaction between services | 67% | 40% | 50% |
Guaranteed support for RSS from political sector (leader of council, councillors etc) | 67% | 40% | 50% |
Others (Which?) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Functioning | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For an RSS to function appropriately, some conditions should be guaranteed (choose up to 4 conditions that you feel are most relevant): | |||
A–Regarding the profile characteristics of those responsible for the RSS (Select the 4 you feel are most relevant): | - | - | - |
Validate information | 67% | 20% | 67% |
Make useful information available | 100% | 80% | 50% |
Up-date information | 67% | 80% | 67% |
Promote internally | 0% | 40% | 0% |
Be familiar with existing technology | 0% | 20% | 33% |
Be able to use this technology well | 33% | 20% | 50% |
Motivate | 67% | 40% | 17% |
Know their public (all those involved) | 33% | 0% | 0% |
B–Regarding the functioning process itself, this should guarantee: | - | - | - |
Previous verification of all technical issues | 67% | 60% | 67% |
Verification of suitability for users | 67% | 60% | 83% |
Previous knowledge of these users (main topics) | 0% | 40% | 17% |
Adaptation of language to target audience | 100% | 40% | 67% |
Use of neutral terms, avoiding conflict or division | 100% | 60% | 50% |
Motivation/Interest | Councillors | General staff | IS techicians |
---|---|---|---|
For the public to be interested in the use of social networks, these should have the following advantages (choose up to 3 advantages): | |||
Able to use again | 0% | 0% | 33% |
Take advantage of a habit | 67% | 0% | 33% |
Shared space between council and citizens (already exists in many councils) | 100% | 40% | 50% |
Shared information | 33% | 80% | 50% |
Technological exclusion of those who do not take part | 0% | 0% | 17% |
Bring council and citizens closer | 67% | 40% | 83% |
Implementation | Councillors | General staff | IS Techicians |
For the implementation of a social network to work and fulfil its aims, which principles should be followed or what care should be taken: | |||
Promotion of social networks to citizens | 100% | 40% | 83% |
Previous interaction with citizens | 33% | 0% | 17% |
Creation of body responsible for interaction between services | 100% | 20% | 83% |
Guaranteed support for social networks from political sector (leader of council, councillors etc.) | 100% | 60% | 67% |
Others (Which?) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Functioning | Councillors | General Staff | IS Techicians |
For a social network to function appropriately, some conditions should be guaranteed: | |||
A–Regarding the profile characteristics of those responsible for the social network (Select the 4 you feel are most relevant): | - | - | - |
Able to moderate | 67% | 20% | 50% |
Able to promote participation between councils and citizens | 100% | 40% | 17% |
Able to regulate all participation | 33% | 60% | 33% |
Know their public | 0% | 20% | 17% |
Know all the contexts involved | 67% | 40% | 33% |
Know the aims of the implementation of social networks | 33% | 0% | 83% |
Create credible and attractive dialogue | 67% | 60% | 50% |
Able to motivate and instigate | 33% | 0% | 50% |
B–Regarding the functioning process itself, this should guarantee: | - | - | - |
Promotion of local networks on local issues | 100% | 100% | 100% |
References
- Crovitz, D. From Wikinomics to Government 2.0. The Wall Street Journal 2008, A13. [Google Scholar]
- Eggers, W.D. Government 2.0: Using Technology to Improve Education, Cut Red Tape, Reduce Gridlock, and Enhance Democracy; Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc: Lanham, MD, USA, 2005. [Google Scholar]
- Dixon, B.E. Towards e-government 2.0: An assessment of where e-Government 2.0 is and where it is headed. Public Adm. Manag. 2010, 15, 418–454. [Google Scholar]
- European Commission, Public Services 2.0: The Impact of Social Computing on Public Services; Luxembourg—Office for Official Publications of the European Communities: Ispra, Italy, 2009.
- OECD, Focus on Citizens. Public Engagement for Better Policy and Services; OECD: Paris, France, 2009.
- Osimo, D. Web 2.0 in Government: Why and How? European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2008. [Google Scholar]
- Chun, S.A.; Shulman, S.; Sandoval, R.; Hovy, E. Government 2.0: Making connections between citizens, data and government. Inf. Polity 2012, 15, 1–9. [Google Scholar]
- Noveck, B. Wiki Government: How Technology Can Make Government Better, Democracy Stronger, and Citizens More Powerful; Bookings Institution Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Lazer, D.; Nebolo, M.; Esterling, K.; Goldschmidt, K. Online Town Hall Meetings; Congressional Management Foundation: Washington, DC, USA, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Meijer, A.; Zouridis, S. E-Government is an Institutional Innovation. In Information and Communication Technology and Public Innovation Assessing the ICT-Driven Modernization of Public Administration; Bekkers, V., van Duivenboden, H., Thaens, M., Eds.; IOS Press: Amsterdam, The Nertherlands, 2006. [Google Scholar]
- Meijer, A.J.; Thaens, M. Alignment 2.0: Strategic use of new internet technologies in government. Gov. Inf. Q. 2010, 27, 113–121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chang, A.; Kannan, P.K. Leveraging Web 2.0 in Government; IBM Center for The Business of Government: Washington, DC, USA, 2008. [Google Scholar]
- Andersen, K.V.; Henriksen, H.Z. e-Government maturity models: Extension of the Layne and Lee model. Gov. Inf. Q. 2006, 23, 236–248. [Google Scholar]
- Benbasat, I.; Goldstein, D.K.; Mead, M. The case research strategy in studies of information systems. MIS Q. 1987, 11, 369–386. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Klievink, B.; Janssen, M. Realizing joined-up government—Dynamic capabilities and stage models for transformation. Gov. Inf. Q. 2009, 26, 275–284. [Google Scholar]
- Feagin, J.; Orum, A.; Sjoberg, G. A Case for Case Study; University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 1991. [Google Scholar]
- Yin, R. Applications of Case Study Research; Sage Publishing: Newbury Park, CA, USA, 1993. [Google Scholar]
- Tseng, P.T.Y.; Yen, D.C.; Hung, Y.; Wang, N.C.F. To explore managerial issues and their implications on e-Government deployment in the public sector: Lessons from Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade. Gov. Inf. Q. 2008, 25, 734–756. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dhillon, G.S.; Weerakkody, V.; Dwivedi, Y.K. Realising transformational stage e-government: A UK local authority perspective. Electr. Gov. 2008, 5, 162–180. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Reddick, C. Citizen interaction with e-government: From the streets to servers? Gov. Inf. Q. 2005, 22, 38–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teerling, M.L.; Pieterson, W. Multichannel marketing: An experiment on guiding citizens to the electronic channels. Gov. Inf. Q. 2010, 27, 98–107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gil-Garcia, J.R.; Martinez-Moyano, I.J. Understanding the evolution of e-government: The influence of systems of rules on public sector dynamics. Gov. Inf. Q. 2007, 24, 266–290. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tellis, W. Application of a Case Study Methodology. The Qualitative Report. September 1997. Available online: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-33-3/tellis2.html (accessed on 10 October 2012).
- Yin, R. Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 2nd ed; Sage Publishing: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA, 1994. [Google Scholar]
- Marshall, C.; Rossman, G.B. Designing Qualitative Research, 2nd ed; Sage: Los Angeles, CA, USA, 1995. [Google Scholar]
- Lüdke, M.; André, M.E.D.A. Pesquisa em Educação: Abordagens Qualitativas; EPU: São Paulo, Brazil, 1986. [Google Scholar]
- Merriam, S.B. Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA, USA, 1998. [Google Scholar]
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Share and Cite
Gomes, R.; Sousa, L. Contributions to the Development of Local e-Government 2.0. Future Internet 2012, 4, 882-899. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi4040882
Gomes R, Sousa L. Contributions to the Development of Local e-Government 2.0. Future Internet. 2012; 4(4):882-899. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi4040882
Chicago/Turabian StyleGomes, Rui, and Lígia Sousa. 2012. "Contributions to the Development of Local e-Government 2.0" Future Internet 4, no. 4: 882-899. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi4040882