Governance and Information Technology Eds, Viktor Mayer- Schonberger and David Lazer For LIS 2186 by Katie Ingersoll, Bryan Carnes, and Brian Taylor
Governance and Information Technology
Eds, Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and David Lazer
For LIS 2186 by Katie Ingersoll, Bryan Carnes, and Brian Taylor
Global Perspectives on E-Government Chapter 2 – by Darrell M. West
Photo by: flickr user edge211 ; http://www.flickr.com/photos/nn_sf/3157497627
“The most optimistic vision… is that the integration of new … ICT into government will
result in a radical
disjuncture of
business as
usual…
The reality falls
short of these utopian visions.” -
- Darrell M. West, p. 30
Photo by flickr user Ed Bierman, http://www.flickr.com/photos/edbier
man/2858105794/
Compares global E-government in terms of :
Online InformationOnline Government Services
Obstacles include:
Internet connectivityCitizen’s privacy concerns
Government resources
North America and Asia have the most extensive e-
government development
Case Study: Firstgov.gov, the United States’ web portal (now USA.gov)
Challenges to Organizational Change : Multi-Level Integrated Information
Structures (MIIS) Chapter 4 - by Jane E. Fountain
“It is now eminently clear that the chief challenge for government is not the implementation of new technologies; it is organizational change required to develop more productive workflows. “-Jane Fountain, p 64
Multi-level Integrated Information System
• Formalized Overarching Norms
• Accountability, legislative frameworks
• Budget Processes
Institutionalized Government Processes
• Interorganizational routines
• Governance, communication, task structures
• Division of labor and specialization
Public organizations and
InterorganizationalNetworks
• Informal Norms
• Professional Networks
• Formed and influenced by individuals
Ongoing Social Relations Social
Network Interactions
Adapted from figure on p. 82
Case Study: E-government in Singapore
eCitizen – Singapore’s portal for citizens
Weak Democracy Strong Information: The Role of Information Technology in
the Rulemaking ProcessChapter 5 - by Cary Coglianese
Direct strategies to Legitimize rulemaking
by unelected bodies:
Strong DemocracyInterest Group Pluralism
Technology is more likely to bring about pluralism than true strong democracy
Photo by Flickr user pasukaru76 http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/3629601725/
Case Study : The EPA’s EDOCKET site
Now regulations from all agencies are at: regulations.gov
Freedom of Information and Electronic Government
Chapter 6 by Herbert Berkert
Transparency is:
-Essential to democracy
- At odds with current e-commerce paradigm in e-government
Focus should shift to general transparency and information available in a variety of forms
Requirements for Freedom Information Legislation
• General public’s access is the rule, not the exception.• Clearly defined privacy policies and protection• Clearly defined time limits for the government to answer request• Information holders must be held responsible for making their
information accessible to the citizenry• Broad technical definitions of information objects, access facilitated
by technology• If a document has portions that are exempt from access, citizens
should still be able to access the nonexempt portions• The requester chooses the format• Costs are based solely on operational administration• Refusal of access subject to judicial review• Centralized monitoring of administrations
Other Obstacles:
“Pendulum swing” of societal desired for public secrecy
Necessity of vibrant civil organizations requesting and presenting information
Movement of public data into the private sector.
Photo by Flickr user hughelectronichttp://www.flickr.com/photos/hughelectronic/4095694755/
EFF lawyers Marcia Hoffman and Nate Cardozo celebrate the arrival of two large boxes full of government documents relating to telecom immunity.
Case Study – Marc Rotenberg and the Electronic Privacy Information Center
Socio-Technologies of Assembly: Sense Making and Demonstration in Lower Manhattan
Chapter 7 – by Monique Girard and David Stark
Collaborative projects aided by technology:
-Rebuilding and development of lower Manhattan
-Information about air quality health issues in Manhattan after 9/11
“New Yorkers deployed new technologies not only to increase the flow of information among a greater number of nodes but to build communities of interpretation. “ -p. 171