Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter XXXIII
Virtual Government:
Online-Services within the
Public Sector
Birgit J. Oberer
University of Klagenfurt, Austria
ABSTRACT
In this chapter, an overview of electronic government is given. Online electronic services,
like inquiry possibilities that are made available to its interaction partners (citizens and
businesses) by administration authorities, are one proof of changes in the public sector
because of modern information and communication technologies. Electronic government
includes all governmental measures at the levels (union, states, and local governments)
for qualitative improvements in citizen's different spheres of life and for optimization of
business processes within the administration. It can cause an improvement of the relationship
between administration, citizens, and businesses. The author gives an overview about
selected current international electronic government incentives, introduces analysis
methods for these governmental strategies, and shows developed guidelines for implementing
electronic government.
INTRODUCTION
Since the 1990s, economies experience changes because of information and communi-
cation technologies. These changes take place in the public sector too. The use of information
and communication technologies enables the development of electronic government and
causes an improvement in the relationship between administration, citizens, and business.
E-government includes all administrative measures at all levels (union, states, and local
governments) to improve the requirement satisfaction for citizens (qualitative improvements
in many spheres of life) and businesses and to optimize the business processes within the
