icegov2012 proceedings

2. E-GOVERNMENT AS IS
2.1. E-Government Globally
E-government and e-governance are intrinsically related,
however, practice shows that successful e-government and egovernance
are not synonymous, but complementary [10]. This
article will use both terms as they are used in the referenced
documents.
E-government has many definitions:
o A new form of organizing public services based on extensive
use of ICT that offers citizens and businesses the new and
higher levels of efficiency and comfort in the delivery of
public services, and in obtaining information on the
performance of governmental agencies [11]
o “E-government” refers to the use by government agencies of
information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the
Internet and mobile computing) that have the ability to
transform relations with citizens, businesses and other arms of
government. These technologies can serve a variety of
different ends: better delivery of government services to
citizens, improved interactions with business and industry,
citizen empowerment through access to information, or more
efficient government management. The resulting benefits can
be less corruption, increased transparency, greater
convenience, revenue growth and/or cost reductions. [12]
o E-government is the use of information technology to support
government operations, engage citizens and provide
government services. [13]
o The term “e-government” focuses on the use of new
information and communication technologies (ICTs) by
governments as applied to the full range of government
functions. In particular, the networking potential offered by
the Internet and related technologies has the potential to
transform the structures and operation of government. [14]
Summing up all these definitions and the world’s best practice, we
can say that e-government and information technology serve as a
tool to achieve such national goals as better governance (and
common prosperity as a consequence) due to better (more
effective and efficient) governmental functions, services and
communications as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. E-government as a Tool
2.2. E-Government in the Russian Federation
The development of e-government in Russia began with the
adoption of the Federal target programme “Electronic Russia
(2002-2010)” in 2002. The main objectives of that programme
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have been announced as “the creation of conditions for the
development of democracy, improving the functioning of the
economy, public administration and local self-government
through the introduction of ICT and mass distribution, and the
rights to freely seek, receive, transfer, production and
dissemination of information” [15]. Along with “Electronic
Russia”, other Federal target programmes “Budget Reform” and
“Administrative Reform” where carried out. After 2010 the
Programme “Information Society 2011-2020” became the
successor to “Electronic Russia”. The stated goals of all these
Federal target programmes were consistent with the global trend –
improving the quality of life through the use of ICT.
Over 2002-2011 there was much public investment in nationwide
projects aimed at e-government development in Russia. The
intensity of the legislative activity in the area of e-government
reflects the intensity of the government’s efforts and is illustrated
in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Quantity of E-Government Legislation Acts Adopted
It is logical to expect rapid positive changes in economy and
society in response to such vigorous state activity and investment
growth in the use of ICT in government, but this has not happened
as we have already seen in Figure 1.
3. THE ANALYSIS
3.1. Analysis of the motives of decision-makers
To understand the reasons for this weak link between the growing
use of ICT in government and any positive changes in other areas
of national development, we must understand the motivation of all
stakeholders, including the legislature, supreme executive power
(Ministry), the regional authorities and municipal government
agencies, companies and citizens.
Established in the last decade, the administrative system of the
Russian Federation is characterized by rigid top-down control
(“vertical power”). In such a system all orders comes from the top
down with, as a rule, lack of feedback, horizontal coordination
and local initiatives. In this system, until recently, the opinion of
citizens and businesses (except for the giant and state-owned
corporations) did not play any significant role, for example, no
large-scale studies of the requirements of citizens and businesses
on the quality of public services have been carried out. These
(citizen and business) stakeholders have no significant channels
by which to influence the authorities.
For the main implementers of e-government (regional authorities
and municipal government agencies), Federal Law and
Government Decrees are the only motive for the creation and
implementation of e-government (“system motivation –
administrative control and compulsion” [16]).