Transformational aspects of e-Government in Ireland: Issues to be addressed
Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: Drawing upon Irish experience, this paper explores some of the key issues to be addressed in using e-Government effectively to transform public sector organisations. Two case studies are detailed:ROS (Revenue Online Service) and Integrated Service Centres (County Donegal). Policy implications of developments to date and remaining challenges are discussed. For the past number of years, Ireland has performed relatively well in a number of cross-national e- Government benchmarking exercises. However, these benchmarks provide only a relatively superficial picture of the complex process of making public services available online. In particular, such benchmarking surveys do not delve behind the headline figures to look at the consequent degrees of impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on organisational change or development. Our study of the transformational aspects of e-Government is based on original research currently being undertaken on behalf of the Committee for Public Management Research (www.irlgov.ie/cpmr). It involves both detailed documentary and website analysis and in-depth interviews with key participants in the e-Government implementation and policy processes, as well as detailed case studies. It examines the comparative impact of, and synergies between, ICT development and organisational change. The paper starts by outlining the drivers and barriers to ICT and organisational change as derived from sector (private and public) and case study analysis. The main emphasis of the paper, however, is on examining the transformational aspects of ICT development in the public sector in Ireland to date. The paper attempts to assess the tangible and intangible benefits of e-Government investments to date, and outline the remaining challenges for public sector organisations in terms of realising the full benefits from ICT with regard to organisational change.
Authors: Orla O’Donnell, Richard Boyle, Virpi Timonen
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2305345693