e-Governance Initiatives in Bangladesh: An Analysis of Strategy formulation for re-inventing  Good Governance

Class Roll# 545

Exam Roll # 000484

Department of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University

 

Executive Summary: New information and communication technologies can make a significant contribution to the achievement of good governance goals.  This 'e-governance' can make governance more efficient and more effective, and bring other benefits too.  Paper demonstrates the corruptions and week governance in Bangladesh and move ahead with providing brief literature survey. With the analyzing of current e-readiness situation in Bangladesh it moved forward id determining a comprehensive model for e-governance considering 4 front-stage and 4 back-stage operation of government. Any government can adopt this model not only deliver a better citizen service but also internalization of concept of e-governance. Latter the model of e-governance is justified with a road map where 7 different steps of initiatives were outlined for formulating strategies for better governance.

e-Governance project selection and evaluation is a very crucial for success in establishing good governance, three models were proposed in selecting projects and evaluating their performance. Small and strong controllable projects are recommended as e-Governance initiatives which would be a part of bigger picture of e-Governance.            

 

Finally e-Governance is analyzed with concept of business management, some new look has been given in re-invention process of societal information system with scope to formulate e-governance strategy by any government.  

 

 


Table of contents

 

Executive Summary. 1

1. Background of the Study. 3

2.0 Formulation of Research Problem.. 4

3.0 Research objectives. 4

5.0 Methodology. 5

6.0 Literature reviews. 5

6.1 Definition of e-Governance. 6

6.2 Interactions in e-governance. 7

6.3 Models of e-governance. 7

6.4 Business perspectives in e-Governance. 8

7.0 Environmental and situational analysis and its results. 10

7.1 Regulatory framework/harmonization. 11

7.2 Government policies. 11

7.3 Re-thinking of government system.. 12

7.3.1 Citizen/business participation. 12

7.3.2 Government’s Operation to support participation. 13

8.0 e-Governance Strategy formulation for good governance. 14

8.1 Strategic dimensions and Focus. 14

8.2. A New Model of e-Governance. 15

8.3 Road Map of e-Governance. 17

8.4. A priority ranking model 20

8.4.1 General Preference Model 20

8.4.2 D. Priority Ranking Model 20

8.5 Methods for implementing of e-Governance project. 21

8.6 Analytical framework for assessing of e-Governance initiatives. 22

9.0 Recommendations and implementation strategies. 22

10.0 Conclusion. 23

11. Reference: 24


1. Background of the Study

“As a developing country Bangladesh has given serious attention to rationalize its administrative organizations, financial and personnel systems and rules and procedures for achieving efficiency and transparency in public service commensurate with the country's socio-political and economic aspirations.”

            ___ Fifth Five year Plan, Planning Commission Bangladesh

Since independence in 1971, the economic development of Bangladesh has been hindered by the addition of newer problems to existing ones. The above quote has been taken from Fifth Five Year Plan, noted that government has a vision to increase its capacity for achieving transparency and accountability for good governance. Reality in achieving these goals with hundreds of projects costing couple of thousand core money[1]. After spending 555 crore taka in public administration, Bangladesh became 133rd (at the bottom of 133 listed country) most corrupted country for three subsequent years on the basis of Transparency International Corruption Index[2].    Lack of transparency and accountability, authoritarian rule and despotism is observed in all departments of the government. These multifarious reasons together with the absence of free flow of information mean that corruption is spreading in Bangladesh on a massive scale.

 

Accountability, transparency, decentralization, administrative reform, and satisfaction of public service by its clients are key problem areas in the present governance system in Bangladesh. e-Governance and exploring the potential role of IT sector to bring about a radical change to improve the situation[3]. In this aspect this is the time to analyze the e-governance and provide support for formulating strategies through an academic research. The focus in this paper is to formulate some strategies to re-invent good governance which is long expected in Bangladesh. This paper also provides some guideline on introducing e-governance for economic development with specifying some project idea and their priority ranking and evaluation strategies.

2.0 Formulation of Research Problem 

The majorities understanding of e-governance is electronic delivery of government services to the people whereas the potential for e-governance is beyond electronic delivery of government services to the people. This problem in conceptualization of e-government effect the action plans to harvest benefits. Again the conception in the wrong direction contributes time and resource lost for a developing country like Bangladesh.   

In this research, E-Governance means its real sense is the use of information and communication technologies to support good governance. It moves beyond old 'IT in government[4]. The areas of e-administration, e-citizen and e-services initiatives, and the government-related components of e-society together represent a Networked Government model for e-governance, the overall aim of which is to more effectively utilize ICTs (Information Communication Technology) for good governance reforms. These new connections strengthen existing relationships and build new partnerships within the civil society. Moreover there is not enough local academic research initiatives to frame this new reality associated with economic development of this country. In this research the topic is entitled as “ e-Governance initiatives in Bangladesh : Analysis of strategy formulations for re-inventing  good governance has two distinct parts - strategy formulation and re-invention of good governance. Firstly, Good governance means as effective and efficient ‘undertaking of activities, management of resources, organization of men and women by groups of people, communities, local government bodies, business organizations and brunches of state (legislature, Judiciary and Government) through social, political, administrative and economic arrangements that meet the daily needs of people and  ensure sustainable development”[5]. secondly strategy formulation for re-invention means articulating strategies in specifically defining interactions of government with a clearly stated road map, defining priority ranking strategy to rationale initiatives and evaluation and management of e-Governance initiatives. These two aspects are briefly discussed in this paper.   

3.0 Research objectives

This research is primarily deals with missing points in strategy formulation for re-invention of e-governances which are also objectives of this research. In strategy formulation three following objectives are expected to incorporate:

  1. Determining current situation of e-Governance in Bangladesh (e-readiness)..
  2. To design a roadmap of e-Government for development ( Strategic Planning)
  3. Developing a priority ranking model to visualize country’s current position in e-governance or ICT for development ( prioritizing)
  4. Defining the methods for implementing and operating of e-Governance project.
  5. Analytical framework for assessing of e-Governance initiatives.

5.0 Methodology

The empirical tools usually play the central role at the early stage of the design of an e-Governance assessment, evaluation as well as formulate strategies. However, these tools are only one of the dimensions that should be taken into account. The implementation process, in its various components, is another important dimension along which governance assessment can vary and serve different purposes. In particular, brief reviews of research were studied for preparation of this paper including government publications, international public administration journals, books, periodicals and long list of web sites.

6.0 Literature reviews

Widespread poverty in Bangladesh has been a driver to corruption in both public and private sectors as individuals seek bribes in order to maintain their livelihoods.  Such practices are widely accepted in the country[6]. These practices are not only hindered the progress of economic development but also fallen the country in a vicious circle of poverty. It has a multiplier effect in the internal investment, entrepreneurship and safety and security of normal citizen life. In these circumstances, with a pressure of donor agency, the country just prepared a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) with principles of Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF, proposed by the World Bank in early 1999) to formulate action plans toward development. Here is given a quote from PRSP:

“A competent and motivated public administration system is central to achieving the poverty reduction and development goals of the strategy. The Government would establish the office of the Ombudsman and establish an independent Anti-Corruption Commission along with measures to expedite investigation procedures to ensure better governance”.                  

 

It is a matter of regret that all of our plans and programs, election mandates, motto of political parties sounds good and affects nothing. Lack of leadership, incentives and motivation to work, level of knowledge and understanding, poor education system as well as our long suffering poor socio-economic conditions, often creates obstacles in performing own task. We love to talk much rather demonstrating implementation of a certain task. This gap between planning and actions holds us behind the race in this 21st century.

One of the most recent inspiring news is the government’s action plan in formulating strategy for ensuring good governance through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) which have a valuable potential to help meet good governance goals in developing countries. With leading by Prime Minister, 60 members team attended the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) at Geneva, Switzerland (10-12 December 2003) where it was declared that:

“Our common desire and commitment to build a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life, premised on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respecting fully and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

Bangladesh is ideally is stepping into building information society and going for introducing electronic governance which offers an opportunity for governments to get closer to the citizen and to build a partnership with diverse communities of interest, practice, expertise, conviction, and inter-dependence[7].

6.1 Definition of e-Governance

Several dimension and related factor influenced the definition of e-Governance. Most of researcher defined e-Governance based on their understanding. Dr. Richard Heeks (2001) defined e-governance is “the use of information and communication technologies to support good governance.  It moves beyond old 'IT in government' models thanks to the new digital connections that ICTs permit.  These new connections strengthen existing relationships and build new partnerships within civil society. e-Governance therefore embraces e-Government, e-Citizen and e-Business. The action, purpose and relatedness were absence in this definition which is very cleverly defined in the Professor Relies definition of e-Governance, he defined e-Governance “an opportunity for governments to get closer to the citizen and to build a partnership with diverse communities of interest, practice, expertise, conviction, and inter-dependence.  In this definition management perspectives are not present. I would emphasis here to redefine the definition of e-Governance in a management perspective:  

 the "electronic management of the state", namely the utilization of information and communication technologies (ICT), including Internet technologies, in the work of country or state bodies[8]

6.2 Interactions in e-governance

The three main target groups that can be distinguished in e-governance concepts are government, citizens and businesses. Abbreviations such as B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) are used, like in e-commerce concepts, to shortly describe which of the main groups are interacting. The most common interactions in e-governance, G2C, G2B and G2G, are presented schematically in Figure 1.

Citizen

Business

NGOs

 

 

 

Central Gov.

 

 

 

 

Local Gov.

G2G

G2G

G2C

G2B

 

G2G

Government B

Citizen

Business

NGOs

 

 

 

Central Gov.

 

 

 

 

Local Gov.

G2G

G2G

G2C

G2B

 

G2G

Government A

         Inter government

6.3 Models of e-governance

Gartner Group, an international consultancy firm[9], has formulated a four phase e-governance model, which was adopted New Zeeland, India and some other country. This can serve as a reference for governments to position where a project fits in the overall evolution of an e-governance strategy. Most governments start by delivering online information, but public demand and internal efficiency soon require more complex services. Of course this takes effect gradually;

1. Information: Presence

2. Interaction: Intake processes

3. Transaction: start transactions

4. Transformation: Integration

1

 

 

2

 

Online Birth Registration

 

 

3

 

 

4

+ Value

+ Complexity

Figure: E-governance Model

some services will be online earlier than others. In some cases the public demand is the driving force, in other cases, cost saving aspects for the government are leading. According to Gartner, e-governance will mature according to the following four phases:

The model does not imply that all institutions have to go through all phases and all at the same time. On the contrary, in the Western world, government institutions are in phase 1, 2 or 3. The differences can be huge: the tax department can be in phase three, while the department of public works is starting phase one. It all depends on where the benefits are highest.

6.4 Business perspectives in e-Governance

Governments around the world are looking seriously at improving their efficiency and reforms.  Some of them have adopted a mission-driven, market oriented approach treating citizens as customers, others have introduced the concept of citizen charters in public organizations, which stipulate the standards of service citizen can expect, as also the compensation they will be paid if they do not get it. As for example, British Rail Passengers Charter offers passengers delayed for more than one hour a voucher worth 20 percent or more of the ticket price[10]. This practice also present in our close door neighbor, an Indian State Andra Prodesh. Their first citizen charter also had broken ground in India by pledging a token compensation of Rs 20 to customer who does not get a service in the time frame stipulated by citizen’s charter[11]. It is intended to underline the concept ordinary citizen has a right to service from the government and is entitled to compensation if he or she does not get it.

It is fact that a very few country was reformed themselves to establish citizen’s charter. Only developed countries are balancing with their private sector in providing citizen service ( ie. ICT was first introduced in Social Security Authority of USA in 1960), where the developing countries are still thinking the new reality of innovative approach to enhance the governance system. Moreover, this reality denotes that Governance is beyond the capacity of the government alone, Civil Society, private sector, local communities – all have to play their part[12]. Problems occurs how civil society, business community and  citizen will regular interact with government to enhance the system of government.

Another issue for all over the world, government in the developing countries costs too much, delivers too little, and is not sufficiently responsive or accountable. Good governance reforms aim to address these shortcomings.  Yet progress – after many years of effort in implementing such reforms – has been much more limited than expected.  e-Governance offers a new way forward, helping improve government processes, connect citizens, and build interactions with and within civil society[13].

A modern approach to the notion of the country incorporates all of the attributes of a large corporation: it has a budget, expenditures, income, shareholders, and clients - citizens who have an interest in affordable and accessible national services. Given this analogy, the country should then strive to satisfy the interests of all of its shareholders, and increase the efficiency of its services, just as corporations seek to raise their capitalization by continuously improving their operating mode to become more technologically efficient.

Therefore, much like their corporate counterparts, the approach to the problem of reforming state bodies should be based on the following three principles:

·         Maintain a focus on citizens;

·         Ensure the concreteness and productivity of all actions and programs;

·         Use market economy mechanisms and actively encourage competition.

E-governance is a form of e-business in governance and refers to the processes and structures pertinent to the delivery of electronic services to the public (citizens and businesses), collaborating with business partners and conducting electronic transactions within an organizational entity

7.0 Environmental and situational analysis and its results

To appreciate the state of E- Readiness in Bangladesh, some understanding of the country is essential for analyzing environment and situation of introducing e-Governance in Bangladesh.  For while Government policies for, and peoples willingness to use, IT are very favorable, Bangladesh’s capacity to establish infrastructure for ICT is limited.   The physical features of the country make it hard to maintain.

In common with many countries in a similar stage of development, Bangladesh’s infrastructure for Information Communication Technology – electricity, fiber and other means for telephone and data transmission – are limited in capacity, dispersion, consistency and connectivity.  Most of the 64,000 villages in the country, home to 70% of the population, do not have electricity or hard wired phone connections.  While there has been a rapid, and hugely beneficial, spread of mobile phones, there is coverage only in the major urban centers and in the corridors linking them. Teledensity in Bangladesh is .83[14]  1% of the population has access to telephones.

Fixed line services are provided by the 100% Government owned Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board; it has a network of about 500,000 connections, over half in the capital city.  The call completion rate – an indicator of quality and reliability - is about 25%.  The Board has, in abundance, all the (worst) characteristics of the monopoly suppliers familiar in e.g. the UK and USA before their privatisation/de-regulation.  Mobile phone services are provided by one dominant, and a number of smaller, privately owned companies.  While these have built cellular networks they have not added substantially to long distance transmission capacity; one has leased capacity on the fibre optic cables installed by the government owned railway monopoly.

 

There are about 100 privately owned[15] Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Bangladesh with less than 200,000 subscribers; access to phone lines restricts both supply and providers willingness to build demand.  All use VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) to channel their traffic and link to Hong Kong and Singapore; Bangladesh does not have a fiber connection to the information superhighway.

7.1 Regulatory framework/harmonization

The Government has a firm[16] hand on the institutional (rules of the game) and organizational (players) structures pertinent to ICT.  Both electricity supply and landline telephones are government monopolies;[17]   VSAT and ISP providers are licensed by Government, a power used to preserve BTTB’s monopoly and potential revenues for Government.   

The Government recently formed the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulation Commission to encourage orderly development of a telecommunication system that enhances and strengthens the social and economic welfare of Bangladesh[18].   The Commission’s major functions are to:

§         regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication services in Bangladesh;

§         protect the interests of local consumers in respect of charges imposed on them and their access to telecommunication services and the quality and variety of such services[19].

The Commission has few means to be pro-active in these areas[20].   Commissioners are appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.   The Ministry of Information focuses on the content of TV and radio broadcasts, etc.  There is no institutional framework that recognizes the blurring of boundaries between telephones, data transmission, media, and digital entertainment nor is there awareness, beyond the occasional scare about a particularly virulent virus, of security and protection.  Bangladesh does not have a legal framework that recognizes intellectual property rights; pirated software, music and video CDs and DVDs are big business.  But there is growing awareness that this state of affairs may be a point for strong pressure from fellow WTO members.

7.2 Government policies

In contrast to the state of physical and institutional infrastructure for ICT, Government policy is expansive.   Government’s efforts are overseen by a high level ICT Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.  IT has been declared a thrust sector and substantial funds approved -  for activities as yet undefined.   Tax legislation and business regulations have been tweaked to create an environment favorable to IT businesses.  An IT village will be established in Dhaka and a High Tech IT Park on its outskirts.

 

The Economist of  Oct 20th 2001 describes how Ministers in Slovenia meet in Cabinet – through their computers.  While GoB has not gone as far as this, it has adopted some ICT practices[21].  In the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Recurrent and Development budgets, and expenditure against budget, are maintained as data bases.  Much of the work of the National Board of Revenue is computerized.  The Planning Commission keeps the Annual Development Programme as a data base; the capacities of this, access to it, and links to MoF’s data base are currently being extended. It is fair to say that the potential of these efforts remains unexploited for three reasons:

§         links between centers of information are difficult[22] to establish and maintain;

§         there is little realization of the benefits to be gained from wider access to information;

§         Systems and procedures for generating, processing and acting on timely and accurate information are under-developed.

7.3 Re-thinking of government system

Three entities, government, citizen and business (NGO, civil society) participation are very crucial factor for economic development of a country. Moreover, in a post colonial government, this interaction and participation are very seldom observed. As a result a real gain from political commitment, benefits from public services and efforts for moving the wheel of development become most difficult. Only few countries like Singapore, Malaysia demonstrate the sound combination and interaction of three entities. Here is given a relative situation in Bangladesh and opportunities available if it is possible to implement e-governance.       

7.3.1 Citizen/business participation

The two main objectives this participation firstly to provide citizen access to information and knowledge about the political process, about services and about choices available and secondly to enable the transition from passive information access to active citizen participation: There are five dimension of this participation

Sl No

Dimensions of Participation

Situation in Bangladesh

1

Informing

Generally government is not willing to inform citizen

2

Representing

Public representatives are not performing their role

3

Encouraging

There is not enough evidence in this issue

4

Consulting

There is not enough evidence in this issue

5

Involving

Citizens are required by political party for their meeting

7.3.2 Government’s Operation to support participation 

There are two type of government operation firstly externally focused operations and backstage or internal operation like a corporate service business. Here is given some ideal situation how ICT can take part in both of this part in the context of Bangladesh: 

Front Office Operations

Government makes interaction with business and citizen using its external operation. Transparency, accountability and lot of other issues are related with externally focused government activities. At this moment except some utility services, most of the external services in Bangladesh are running under manual procedure. As a result, 17 different licenses are required to establish an industrial setup from different offices. This process lingers the time. An entrepreneur decided to setup an industry to participate a particular market takes unnecessary two years of time to get all necessary approval from government. This limits the investment in Bangladesh. On the other hand e-Governance is to fulfill the public’s needs and expectations satisfactory on the front-office side, by simplifying the interaction with various services. The use of ICT in government operations facilitates speedy, transparent, accountable, efficient and effective interaction with the public, citizens, business and other agencies.

Back-office operation

In the back-office, the internal functions of e-government in government operations are to facilitate a speedy, transparent, accountable, efficient and effective process for performing government administration activities. Significant cost savings (per transaction) in government operations can be the result.

8.0 e-Governance Strategy formulation for good governance

8.1 Strategic dimensions and Focus

The strategic Directions of e-governance is to support and simplify governance for all parties; government, citizens and businesses. The use of ICTs can connect all three parties and support processes and activities. Business considers their strategic views in selecting customers segments based on citizens of particular locations, government focuses its service activity to segment the population ensures citizen to get the benefits.

The e-Governance differs from country to country or region to region, as it should reflect the needs and aspirations of those countries, states and regions. However, a certain commonality exists in the expectations of the stake-holders, namely, the Government. on one hand and the citizen/business on the other[23]. The following table brings out these expectations as viewed from the Government’s point and as viewed from the citizen/business point.

Table 1 : Different Views to the service requirement of e-governance

Government’s View

Citizen/Business View

Explanations

1. Efficiency

1.Speedy service

Health record and services based on PIN

2.Transparency

2. Fair trial / audit ability

Online verification of criminal suspicions through SSN or PIN

3. Equity/Social justice / Inclusion

3. Accessibility / Spread / Regional language

Any where accessible even from mobile phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

4. Cost effectiveness

4. Affordability, value proposition

Time cost and process cost of getting a service.

5. Simplicity

5. User-friendliness, self-service

Bangla Language use in Software or Internet Apps.

6. Responsiveness

6. Interactivity

Web, Kiosks or digital TV or touch tone device using for delivering information’s

7. Participating

7. Consultations, democratic

e-votes and internet participation

8. Security

8. Trust Consistency, Expectancy

SSN or PIN would provide security and privacy

9. Integration / Collaboration

9. Convenience, cost and time saving,

Reduction of duplicated work and integrated use of same information

 

Government can gain efficiency through ensuring faster service delivery mechanism to the people same as transparency through fair trial and audits. All the factors that stated in this table is inefficient in developing countries for that reason governmental efforts are not always meets the citizens expectations. As a result development program has been stagnated.  The new strategy formulation should have to on the basis of customer relationship management or citizen relationship management (CRM). Management of the government body can be re-think through introducing Total Quality Management (TQM)        

8.2. A New Model of e-Governance

E-governance

Government

Business/NGO

Citizen

Accountable

Faithful

Partnership

Figure: Integrated e-Governance

With divergence of requirements and reforms as well as incorporating business and corporate management practice in government are most important factors in formulating strategic plan for e-Governance. There are some well as established models were developed and working in many country. As Denver is not like Dhaka, the practices of e-Governance in USA will be significantly different in Bangladesh. In literature review, a model for e-Governance is given which is only dealing with external expression of government. Although that model has been adopted by many developed countries (i.e New Zealand, UK and others), without integrating internal operation of government it will be very difficult to implement such model in Bangladesh. Along with this for developing countries, an integrated approach of eight factor model e-Governance can be demonstrated which is given in the following Figure .  

Increasing Organizational Capacity

Increasing Transparency/ accountability

Increasing Value to the Citizen

Information

 

 

Interaction

 

 

 

 

 

Transaction

 

 

 

 

 

Integration

Technology

 

 

Skill

 

 

 

 

Management

 

 

 

 

Leadership

External Interface

Internal Interface

Figure : A eight factor Model of e-Governance

Key characteristic of this model:

There are four stages in this modified e-Governance model: here is give some clarification of this model

1. Technological adaptation in government to provide Information to citizen:  This is the beginning of the e-Governance. Technology (hardware, software, connectivity) will increase the capacity of government on the other hand flow information to citizen will increase transparency and accountability. It is very important at this stage that, government is not necessary to change the existing process of activities. Again it not mandatory to  publish information through web; Radio, television, news paper and other old media can be used for this purpose along with Kiosk- government information access points. Publishing information through web may be cost effective, it will not be utilized because of digital divide.

2. Skill enhancement in government to facilitate interaction of citizen: These skills are not only technological but also related with service capacity planning, citizen charter, Citizen Relationship Management (CRM). Basically government has to be skilled enough to handle more citizen claims with shortest time. Interaction of citizen can be done through internet which is not only media, personal contact, telephone, postal mailing should have to maintain as an enhanced interaction in between government and citizen. Moreover, this enhanced interaction may increase complexity in government, it will also increase the value to the citizen.

3. Management in government to facilitate Transaction in between citizen: Business already experienced that electronic transaction is highly cost effective and has a strong control over the process. This practice can be adopted by government. Here there would be a problem with distinction in between business and government. Government management should have to be efficient enough to provide electronic transaction to the citizen, which will reduce corruption, increase transparency as well as increase organizational capacity of the government.

4. Political influence for integration government activity: This is the last step in this model. Here political influence would be necessity to build an integrated or networked government. Citizen/business can obtain any service from any point and any time. Political drive would be necessity to open the government offices 24 hours a day and 7 days of a week. This reform would provide a greater benefit to the citizen and business as well as increase the capacity of government. At this stage the technological dimension would most complex and value of e-Governance would be most desirable for the citizen.                      

8.3 Road Map of e-Governance

Eight factor- model that is discussed earlier can evaluate current situation of government drive toward e-Governance or it can clarify the concept of e-Governance how government should move forward. Moreover, a strategic guideline as a road map of e-Governance would be required in implementing e-Governance initiatives: Elements of road map of e-Governance is discussed in the table to demonstrate how developing country would move ahead for in implementing e-governance. This road map table is given steps in implementing e-governance with three different perspectives (e-Government, e-Citizen and e-business) with individual areas of consideration.  The table is self explanatory and any developing country’s government can put all the necessary inputs in the cells headed by grey mark and can obtain a road map of e-Governance. Moreover, individual steps are discussed in here.  

Step 1: Analysis of requirement of e-governance: the government should first analyze its current structure and process of operation with citizen services requirements.


Steps

Elements of Road Map of e-Governance

Perspectives and focus

e-Government

e-Citizen

e-Business

1

Analysis of requirements of e-governance

Structure and process

Service requirements

Practices

 

1.1 Current Capacity

Demand and Supply

Satisfaction

Interactions

1.2 Tools and Techniques

Technology and adoption

Accessibility

Interface

1.3 Learning

Pilot and demonstration

Trail use and impact

Rules and Procedure

2

Articulation visions and defining policy

Strategies and Actions

Perceived benefits

Growth &expansion

 

2.1 e-Vision

Long term vision

Immediate solution

Opportunity in operation

2.2 Strategies Plans, Policies

Inputs, process and outputs

Equity and justice

Fair practice

2.3 Resources and Constrains

Capability and priority

Optimum use

Sharing and outsourcing

3

Developing core architecture

Networked system

Any where access

Participation

 

3.1 Business process Model

Core –periphery system

Involvements

Improvements

 

3.2 Integrated Framework

Reduce duplication

Easy to access

Attachments

 

3.2 Interfacing

Liked and coordinated

Anywhere access

Equal access points

4

Building infrastructure (Technology)

Strong control over process

Enhancement

Partnerships

 

4.1 Data and Security

Legacy and operations

privacy and security

Solutions in management

 

4.2 Applications

Portable and replicable

User-friendly and easy

Providing solutions

 

4.3 Network

LAN, WAN and Internet

 Kiosks and access point

Operate the system

5

Integrated services and Value chain

Integration

Public Readiness

Partner management

6

Mobilizing resources for implementation

Small and limited project

Wider benefits

Business Transformation

7

Evaluating the program (Risk and Performance management)

Portfolio management

High availability

Dependability

Table : elements and interactions of Road map of e-Governance


Very importantly current business practices and their capacity should also have to take into account. If it seems inadequate preparedness of business, proper training and incubating business entity should have to done by the government. Government has to conduct a continuous basis information collection of e-Readiness to drive toward introducing e-governance initiatives.

2. Articulating vision and defining strategy: After analyzing requirements and justifying preparedness, the introducer of e-Governance should have to start in articulating visions and defining strategy. If the vision does not match with current situation then it should have to return back to comprehensive e-readiness program. Moreover, at this stage government has to formulate a long term vision with considering citizen immediate solution of their public services and securities. The government also thinks about business drives in future and opportunities in future business operations. The proper link with present and future investment expectation should lead this formulation of vision and strategies.          

3. Developing core architecture: Business process model of government should have to re-think. Appropriate businesses process re-engineering may help government in cutting costs, improving efficiency and reduce corruption. It should have to importantly think about networked government and most easy access to any government in any time with an integrated approach.   

4. Building Infrastructure: Government should have to think about proprietary solution for e-governance (Microsoft, HP, SAP) verses open platform. More importantly keeping in consideration about the local language and user-friendly applications with intuitive solution may help government to define application architecture. Very simply government can break the boundary wall of offices through introducing electronic mail over a networked environment.

5. Integrated Value Chain: Government has to develop value chain of services they provides for the citizen and re-think about possession or opening for the private participation. The value chain integration with public and private may increase the over all economic efficiency of the country.

6. Mobilization of resource for implementation : Resource mobilization is not only government responsibility. Participation form donors and private should have to welcome by the government. Key issue in implementation is program should have small enough to scale and monitor, replication should have to be rapid enough to visualize the greater benefits of e-governance. A very large program with no immediate benefit will suffer the real implementation of e-governance project

7. Evaluation of Programs: Every program should have to evaluate and monitored properly unless the overall reform program will fail to achieve its goal.   

 

 

8.4. A priority ranking model

8.4.1 General Preference Model

        High            Low

 High

(e-governance)

Moderate

Moderate

Low

 

Integrated Tasks

Disconnected Tasks

Structured- Repetitive

Unstructured-

Program selection for e-governance is a complex work and requires huge time effort to establish though priority projects. What would be country’s priority project?  I would like to give a simplified model to show country’s General Preference in automation. I classified all services and activity performed by government according to four factors.  

1. Integrated processing of work

2. Disconnected processing work (Non Routine work)

3. Structured work which is repetitive

4. Unstructured work

This model suggest to intake those projects which one in highly integrated and structural repetitive works.  

8.4.2 D. Priority Ranking Model

Broad and macro aspect of country is required to consider in rank priority in terms of following equation:

PRV = P+E+B+I+A+M

Here, P refers- Planning; E – Estimation; B – benefits/output; I – Implementation; A – Actions and targets; M- Management and Monitoring

Factors

Scaling and weightage

Appraisal Index

Measures of

Poor

Moderate

Good

Planning

Small and definite 10

Large and indefinite 5

 

5

 

7

 

10

 

Plan

Estimation

IRR/NPV/BCR – 5
Budget                           -5

5

7

10

Resource requirements

Benefits/ Output

Benefit in operation        5

Benefit in integration      5     

5

7

10

Targets

Implementation

Benefit by 60 month  30

Benefit  1 year   20
more then 2 year  5

10

20

30

Time to obtain

Actions and target

Poor people     = 30

Private sector   = 10

Government  =  5

 

10

 

15

 

30

Beneficiaries

Monitoring

Web based monitoring 10

Traditional 5

5

7

10

Transparency

Table:  score table of priority ranking model

All of these variables have been taken from Government Project Life Cycle of Bangladesh. In order to implement an e-Governance project, government has to follow already implemented macro economic rules of business. In this respect, to select a project numerical value has to provide in these six factors. The sum of all of these factors equals PRV which can be used to determine the new ICT based projects for implementing e-Governance. This priority Ranking Model has to have a close link with overall e-Governance Road Map. Here is given the table to assigning value to six factors and measuring them to make project selection decisions. The tables shows the scaling and weightages where 40 scored project are poor for implementing e-governance initiatives, 60 is moderate and above 60 is good. The government can take this table to evaluate project proposals to implement e-governance project.    

8.5 Methods for implementing of e-Governance project.

The model presented can serve as a reference for governments to position where projects fit in the overall evolution of their e-governance implementation. The model can also support governments in defining an e-governance vision and strategy. Projects will have a more structural value for development when embedded in a vision and supported by a strategy. Accentor has defined an approach to implement e-governance projects: Think big, start small and scale fast[24].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Figure : e-governance implementation model

 

 

The process of going from global objectives to concrete targets is complex. It is a joint effort undertaken by all stakeholders.

8.6 Analytical framework for assessing of e-Governance initiatives.

Here is given an e-governance assessment and ranking table to use country/division/district/ thana/ town or other local level initiatives. Using this table local level e-Governance initiatives can be assess and ranked which can be used to raise competition among local governments in terms of raising resources in government reform.   

Parameter

Weightage

Assessment index

Measure of

Poor

Medium

Good

Computer Ratio

15

<.35

<3.5 .60 >

.60>

Competency

LAN and WAN links

15

Nill

LAN

NWAN

Connectivity

Distributed Applications

10

Nill

Internal

<5-10>

External 10>

Content

Resource Investments

20

< 1 crore

<1 – 5>

 5 >

Capital

Access point ratio

10

Nill

<.3 .5 >

.5>

Citizen Access

Portal containing info

10

Nill

<10-15>

15>

Interface

Architecture

20

Nill

Partial 10

Full 20

Planning

 

Overall less then 40 score is poor performance in e-governance initiatives, above 50 is moderate and above 60 is good position in terms of assessing e-governance initiatives. 

9.0 Recommendations and implementation strategies

Good governance is attributed to ensure accountability, transparency, efficiency, empowerment, participation, sustainability, equity and justice[25]. To formulate strategies to re-invent these attributes of governance using ICT in the form of e-Governance, recommendations are:

1. e-Governance does not necessarily mean “e” for a technological government, rather it is an enhanced practice.

2. Bangladesh already entered into e-Governance without any official declaration, because this is process that starts beyond the initialization of a government.

4. Customer relationship management is re-introduced as a citizen relationship management in the e-governance. Because, most of country introduced citizen charters.  e-Governance is adopting practices from a large corporate to meet and satisfy increased citizen needs.

5. Government is a facilitator in e-governance which was an actor for some century of practice. In this reform in governance will interact electronically with citizen and business to share responsibility and invite participations.

7. Country is required to define its road map and priorities to move ahead of implementation of e-governance projects where small and demonstrational projects are the best way to implement and rapid progress toward e-Governance.

10.0 Conclusion

Challenges and complexities of a country gradually increased in the new millennium for globalization – increased competition in export and fund raising. Reforms and restructuring in the government is becoming evident for cutting cost, increasing efficiency, transparency and accountability, managing process, building strategic connections and empowering citizen and private sector. In the new millennium development goals, most of the countries adopting e-Governance to serve the citizen best like the customer relationship management in business. This new dimension and re-invention process of governance, this paper demonstrated how a country can formulate e-Governance strategies through a comprehensive e-governance model, capacity planning and stepping more into implementation through a road map of e-governance, priority ranking criteria and through implementation methodology of e-Governance project.           


11. Reference:

  1. Hye, Abdul, Hasnat edited (2000),“ Governance : South Asian Perspectives”, University Press Limited
  2. Bangladesh Government,  Fifth Five Year Plan”, Annual Development Program ADP- 1999, 2000,2001,2002,2003 and 2004
  3. Borins, Stanford, June (2002) “ On the frontier of Electronic Governance: a report on United states and Canada ”, International Review of Public Administration, Volume 68, Number 2
  4. Bovaired, Tony and Loffler Elke, March (2002), “ Moving from excellence models of local service delivery to benchmarking if good governance”, International Review of Public Administration, Volume 68
  5. Castells, Manuel (1997): “The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture”, Volume 1, “The Rise of the Network Society.”, Blackwell publishers:
  6. Draft Declaration of Principles, (2003) “Building the Information Society: a global challenge in the new Millennium  WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/4-E
  7. Kiggundu, N. Moses, (1989): “Managing Organizations in Developing Countries: An Operational and Strategic Approach” Kumarian Press INC:
  8. Lovelock, Christopher, 2001 “ Service marketing : People, Technology, Strategy”, Peterson Education Asia      
  9. Naidu, N. Chandrababu, and Ninan Sevanti, (2000) “Plan Speaking”:  VIKING
  10. PRSP 2002 and i-PRSP, Bangladesh
  11. Sanellen, Ignace, June (2002) “ Electronic Governance: implications for citizens, politician and public servants”, International Review of Public Administration, Volume 68, Number 2 June 2002
  12. Tan, B Felix, Corbett, O. Scott and Wing, Young, Yuk (1999) “ Information Technology Diffusion in the Asia Pacific: Perspectives on  Policy , electronic commerce and education”, Idea Group Publishing
  13. Thurow, C. Lester: (2000): Building Wealth : New Rules for Individuals, Companies in a Knowledge-Based Economy : HyperBusiness:

 

Web Sites and URLS

    



[1] i.e for implementing 38 different Public Administration project, the country is spending 193 crore taka in 2003-2004 fiscal year[1]. This figure was 169 crore taka for 45 projects in 2002-2003 and 193 crore taka in 2001-2002 fiscal year,  Source : ADP Year Book , Planning Commission Bangladesh

[2] Dr. Peter Eigen, BBC News online http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3169602.stm

[3] “e-governance in different aspects” 12-14 February 2002, on 'Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper', jointly organized by Government of Bangladesh, WB and IMF.

[4] Ms Tahera Jabeen, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/message/5024

[5] Hye, Abdul, Hasnat, “ Good Governance : A social contract for the new Millennium”,  The University Press Limited 2000, pp 2  

[6] Ahmed, Moshtaq “ Case Study on e-Government for development ”, IDPM, Manchester University, UK, 2002, pp. 1

[7] Rileys B. Thomas “ e-governance vs e-government”,  http://www.electronicgov.net/

[8]  www.developmentgateway.org “e-Government in  Kyrgystan”

[9]  Gartner Group, e-commerce

[10] Citizen’s Charter, Municipal Corporations, UK pp. 169

[11] Naidu N. Chandrababu “ Plain Thinking”, VIKING, 2000, pp. 59

[12] ibid pp. 15

[13] Heeks, Richard, “Understanding e-Governance for Development”, IDPM, Manchester University  pp. 4

 

[14] Teledensity rate is 4.38 in India, 7.99 in Sri Lanka, 2.89 in Pakistan and 2.89 in Nepal ( Source ITU WDI2001)

[15] BTTB is an ISP for its employees – but few others.

[16] Some would say, strangling.   Prof Md Younus, founder of Grameen Bank and head of the biggest private mobile phone network, reckons that the single greatest service government could do to advance the spread of IT in Bangladesh is to get out of the way.

[17] A few privately owned firms are licensed to operate phone services in rural areas.

[18] Bangladesh Telecommunications Act, §29 (a). 

[19] Bangladesh Telecommunications Act, §29 (a). 

[20] “The Act is not very forward looking and may not be able to attract the type of foreign investment that the telecommunications sector needs in Bangladesh.”  Bangladesh Telecommunications Market and its Development,  IIFC report Jan 2002.

[21]  What follows is not intended as an exhaustive listing of all GoB efforts.

[22]  Under the National Data Bank project high capacity links were built between the Prime Minister’s Office, the Planning Commission and the Bureau of Statistics; the Secretariat was not included.  Unfortunately, the network laid down does not function now.

[23]  Source : www.mit.gov.in

[24] Source www.mit.gov.in

[25] ibid pp. 7