OECD Peer Review of E-Government in Denmark - ePractice.eu

The case for e-government
Denmark is not pursuing e-government as an end in itself, but rather as an enabler of wider
government objectives. Aside from the Structural Reform, there are three major elements to the
e-government policy environment: 1) the push for modernisation of the public sector; 2) Danish
government ICT policy; and 3) public sector efficiency goals. Together, these policies make up the
case for e-government.
The OECD’s interviews, review of relevant documentation, and survey of Danish government
organisations show that this is clearly articulated in the design and implementation of the Danish
e-government strategy. However, full understanding of the relationship between e-government and
these other policies and programmes has not yet permeated the public sector. Where such
understanding has been developed it is often biased towards ICT policy and efficiency goals.
Public sector modernisation
Since 2002, the Government has been implementing a public sector modernisation programme
entitled Citizens at the Wheel, under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance. The vision of the
programme is to create a government that is more focused on the needs of citizens than those of
government agencies; especially through provision of public services that are coherent, accessible and
responsive. It also aims to give citizens greater freedom of choice in dealing with the public sector, to
strengthen their legal rights, and to use government funds as effectively as possible to achieve the
highest possible public welfare within tight budgetary constraints.
The modernisation programme identifies e-government as one of the key enablers of these
changes, treating it as both a discrete initiative and as part of other modernisation initiatives. The
relationship between e-government and public sector modernisation has been well articulated.
However, this relationship is not yet widely understood in government. Even where the relationship is
understood, it is not being used as a strong driver of e-government within individual organisations.
Overall, this creates some tension between the user-focused and efficiency-oriented objectives of the
e-government strategy.
Government ICT policy
The MVTU, with technical assistance from its National IT and Telecom Agency, is responsible
for the development and co-ordination of government ICT policies. The essence of these policies – as
laid down in 1994 – is that effective use of information technology in support of development of the
Danish information society is a key to economic development, improved quality of life and better
public and private goods and services. The public sector is expected to be a leading force in
demonstrating and achieving this. Government ICT policy has evolved since 1994. Currently, it has
three major goals: 1) creating growth in Danish business and industry; 2) preparing Danes for the
future knowledge society, including by offering them a wider range of relevant and useful public
services via the Internet; and 3) reforming the public sector.
Danish e-government and ICT policies are strongly linked, due both to the former having its
origins in the latter, and the leadership role that the MVTU has undertaken. In 2001, following a
review of the public sector’s progress in developing e-government, the Ministry of Finance established
both the Joint Board of e-Government and the Danish Digital Task Force to increase the focus being
placed on overall e-government leadership, planning and co-ordination. Since this move the MVTU
has concentrated on development of public sector ICT as a platform for e-government, with a special
focus on the development of standards. While there were some tensions between the Ministry of
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