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

II.
THE CASE FOR E-GOVERNMENT
Denmark is not pursuing e-government as an end in itself. Rather, it is treated as an enabler of
wider government objectives. In addition to its role in advancing the Structural Reform, there are three
major elements to the e-government policy environment: 1) government ICT policy; 2) the push for
public sector modernisation; and 3) public sector efficiency. Together, these provide the essence of the
“case” for e-government. Detailed coverage of policies, strategies and plans related to e-government is
provided in Appendix 4.
The OECD’s interviews with Danish officials, review of relevant documentation, and survey of
government organisations show that the case for e-government is relatively clearly articulated in the
design and implementation of Denmark’s e-government strategy. However, full understanding of the
relationship between e-government and other government policies and programmes has not yet
permeated the public sector.
E-government policy context
The e-government programme does not stand alone, instead being positioned as an enabler of
economic and other policy goals. In particular, it is linked to:
• Public sector modernisation, which aims to create a more citizen-centric public sector
providing better public services.
• ICT policy, which aims to stimulate growth in Danish business and the ICT industry, develop
Danes’ ability to participate in the “knowledge society” (particularly by offering a wider
range of relevant and useful public services via the Internet), and reform the public sector.
• Improving public sector efficiency, which the Government has identified as a key factor in
ensuring Denmark’s ongoing competitiveness and ability to fund its welfare state.
Public sector modernisation
The Government has implemented a public sector modernisation programme called “Citizens at
the Wheel”. Launched in May 2002, under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance, the vision of the
programme is to create a public sector that will:
• Be based on the free choice of citizens.
• Be open, simple and responsive.
• Provide value for money.
The programme identifies e-government as one of the key enablers of achieving the
Government’s modernisation vision. The goal of the programme is to ensure that government is
focused on the needs of citizens rather than those of government agencies, and that it provides public
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