E-READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE FOR NORTH ... - Kunnat.net

The table below forms the basis for the questionnaire for assessing the e-Readiness of
the municipalities in this study.
Table 2: Key Factors for E-Government Readiness
Areas Key Factors
Political conditions • Awareness of political value of
Good governance, as a condition for E-Government
sustainable development, requires • Commitment to E-Government and
genuine commitment from
political leaders, the private sector and
organizations of civil society.
good governance
In the same way, the introduction of • Leadership skills
E-Government in society requires strong • National identity and perception of
political will to see through the transformation government
process it implies to government both in its • Legislative framework
internal operations as well as with regards • Citizens’ and civil society’s participation
to its interaction with civil society. in government’s affairs
• Good governance and rule of law
Regulatory framework • Security standards
A proper regulatory framework is needed in • Privacy legislation
order to enable secure information exchanges • Legal validity of transactions on line
within government and between government, • Degree of liberalization of telecitizens
and businesses. communication market, including the
internet service providers market
It is also needed to create the economic • Positive fi scal environment for acquisition
conditions for accessible ICT infrastructures, of IT equipment
services, and equipment
Organizational conditions • Administrative structures and legacies
International experience shows that the • Public administration reforms
introduction of E-Government calls for and • Civil service reform
causes profound and evolutionary change of • Central coordination and support unit
the institutional arrangements. • Policy coordination
• Inter governmental relations
To guide this transformation process, • Change agents and management
appropriate management and coordination
mechanisms are needed.
Cultural and human resources conditions • Culture, traditions and languages
Positive attitudes, knowledge and skills need • Gender inequality
to be in place – especially within the public • Educational levels
sector – to initiate, implement and sustain • IT literacy and number of on-line users
E-Government. • IT educational facilities and programs
• Culture of information and knowledge
Cultural aspects may cause general resistance sharing
to change and information-sharing. Inadequate • Prevailing organizational culture
human resource capacity may lead to lack of • Attitude and adaptability to change,
customer-orientation and overall commitment. especially in public administration
• Managerial skills in the public sector
• Service orientation of public administration
towards citizens
Communication environment • Citizen’s awareness and understanding
In today’s world, communicating with citizens is • Communication culture and channels
a duty and a necessity for governments. • Information and knowledge sharing
E-Government needs to be accepted and
understood by all stakeholders to ensure that
its benefi ts fl ow to the society as a whole.
of ICT and E-Government
Source: Plan of Action for E-Government Development, Government of Italy, Ministry of Innovation
and Technology & United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, 2002.
Strenghtening e-Governance in the North-South Local Government Co-operation Programme 27