European Journal of ePractice

Policy lessons from a decade of eGovernment, eHealth & eInclusion

eurodyn1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:42:10 +0000

Publication Date:

14 March 2012

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

Over the past decade, many Information Society strategies have emerged in Europe, such as eEurope (1999), i2010 (2005) and Digital Agenda for Europe (2010). eGovernment, eHealth and eInclusion are the three policy sub-domains comprising the societal public services pillar which is the backbone of all such strategic frameworks. Given the emphasis that the new overarching EU2020 Strategy places on tackling grand societal challenges and turning them into economic opportunities, the relevance of these three domains is greater today than in the past.

Author(s):

ccodagnone@rso.it

Zoi Konstantinou

PDF Version:

Journal_Volume_15_FINAL_upd5.pdf

Articles

Surviving in the Digital eID World

Vassilia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:14:46 +0000

Publication Date:

29 February 2012

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

A person’s digital identity can be defined as the collection of all digital information about or related to the person. Social interaction, shopping, entertainment, Government services – are all increasingly performed through digital means, and all depend on, create and use digital identity information. Requirements for identity information range from unique identification of a real identity with high certainty to full anonymity.

While identity information is definitely the property of the individual, the information is increasingly shared across social networks, commercial services and Government, with or without the individual’s consent. How can we, as individuals, survive in the digital identity world while still being able to utilise our identity information as an asset to our own advantage in a controlled way? How can society - through legal measures, culture and technology - contribute to an environment where privacy and ownership to personal information are respected?

Author(s):

jon.olnes@dnv.com

PDF Version:

Journal_Volume_14_FINAL_28.2.2012_Part1.pdf

Articles

Megatrends in eGovernment

Vassilia — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:13:58 +0000

Publication Date:

7 November 2011

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

The first government websites were launched almost 15 years ago. EGovernment initiatives have since then proliferated at all levels of government. Early views assumed the move towards eGovernment as a single linear developmental path. This notion was soon captured by suppliers in a variety of stage models.

Those early views, clearly infused by technological determinism, tended to emphasise the technological dimensions of eGovernment and suggested a rather automatic set of outcomes and benefits. Experience, and even some high profile failures, showed us that eGovernment does not actually follow a single linear path, nor are its potential benefits so predictably accomplished. Project implementation is much more difficult than expected. Problems and barriers are not primarily technological, but also organisational, political, legal, or even cultural. Moreover, successful solutions and practices are usually highly dependent on local conditions.

Author(s):

eaibar@uoc.edu

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 13 - Megatrends in eGovernment (22-11-edit).pdf

Articles

The Openness of Government

Vassilia — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:16:15 +0000

Publication Date:

17 March 2011

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

In November 1959, for TV Guide Magazine, John F. Kennedy wrote about television as - force that has changed the political scene'. He had recently experienced the first televised Presidential debates, against Richard M. Nixon, and realised that things would never be the same again. But not even he foresaw that 50 years later, that same communication technology would still be rewriting the rules of politics and government, continuing to open up yet more aspects of political life - not least by bringing the workings of parliaments around the world into our homes.

But if you regard the phenomenon that is government, and the practice of politics within that, as social systems by which human groups (like nations, municipalities, companies, or even golf clubs) organise and regulate themselves, then it is clear that communication between people in the group is the crucial factor enabling them to work. So any technology that can change the nature and pattern of communication opens up new possibilities for the conduct of those activities.

In November 1959, for TV Guide Magazine, John F. Kennedy wrote about television as 'a force that has changed the political scene'. He had recently experienced the first televised Presidential debates, against Richard M. Nixon, and realised that things would never be the same again.

Author(s):

pwaller

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 12.pdf

Articles

E-Government for the Economic Crisis

Vassilia — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:30:01 +0000

Publication Date:

1 March 2011

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

Many argue that these are the worst of times, and that we are very unfortunate to be living through the deepest financial crisis for seventy years. That's one view. Others argue, as did one of US President Barack Obama's aides a few years ago, that this crisis is too good to waste. How fortunate we are to have the chance to radically transform the ways our societies function and are governed. This other view sees the crisis as a generational opportunity for change. Venezuelan scholar, Professor Carlota Perez, in her seminal 2002 book, not only foresaw what we are now experiencing but also gave us a formula for proactive and innovative action with ICT and governance as central pillars: the need for strong policies prioritising longer-term investments in the ICT demand side (inclusion, training, take-up) coupled with government transformation based on ICT systems and new organisational models. Is the world, is Europe, living up to this challenge?

Author(s):

J.Millard

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 11_updated.pdf

Articles

Implementing eAccessibility as a service quality factor

Vassilia — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:16:57 +0000

Publication Date:

20 September 2010

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

Over the last decades Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have entered almost all aspects of our lives. The multimedial and multimodal power of ICT allows adapting systems and services to the needs of all user groups. Access has become easier due to time and location independence of ICT based services.

People with disabilities, the aging population and other groups at a disadvantage benefit most from this increased adaptability. Many ICT systems and services are assistive and inclusive for these target groups, in particular for people with disabilities, who often work with specialised Assistive Technologies (AT).

ICT and AT can be seen as universal door openers for independent participation in the information or knowledge society.

Author(s):

kmiesenberger

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 10.pdf

Articles

Government 2.0 - Hype, Hope, or Reality?

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:30:27 +0000

Publication Date:

1 March 2010

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

In the space of two years, the '2.0' meme has risen from obscurity to mainstream in eGovernment policy, as the comparison between the EU Ministerial Declaration of 2007 and 2009 shows. Yet much of the debate is still on the potential opportunities and risks of Government 2.0, with evangelists emphasising the great benefits of crowdsourcing and of leveraging collective intelligence, and skeptics pointing to the risks of wishful thinking, to the limits of transparency, and to the hype about its impact. The question is then: has government 2.0 so far really provided visible benefits for citizens?

The 7 articles presented do not present conclusive evidence. Rather, they provide relevant insights for a sober assessment of the actual implications and impacts, bringing together a diverse set of points of view and with a wide geographical scope. The very definition of government 2.0 is not commonly agreed, as some articles make reference to eParticipation, which may imply any kind of participative effort using ICT, others to Open Government initiatives, which tend to be more focused on transparency and access to a particular government's process.

The first necessary step is mapping the typology of impact. Huijboom et al., based on a large-scale study, identify the key types of impacts of web 2.0 across public services: political, socio-cultural, organisational and legal. The article clearly shows these impacts in three case studies of government 2.0, which interestingly enough are not developed within government. Whereas these cases clearly show the potential disruptive impact on those involved, they remain small groups, such as the niche of 25.000 people for the Patientslikeme.org service. Furthermore, the article reminds us that the evidence behind these impacts remains largely anecdotal.

Participation and collaboration, so far, reach a small minority of users. Ferro and Molinari frame the debate in the context of the participation ladder theory, and remind us that European eParticipation
projects reach an average of a few hundred users: this kind of government-led 2.0 initiatives very much share the traditional problems of low take-up of eGovernment. There is the risk of repeating

Author(s):

david.osimo@cec...

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 9.pdf

Articles

eHealth and beyond

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:53:30 +0000

Publication Date:

21 December 2009

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

Today, citizens aged 65+ make up close to 18 % of the total population in all EU countries and the percentage of elderly will increase further in the following years. The most dramatic raise is expected in the 80+ age range. Ageing of the population together with unhealthy life styles are generating an increased prevalence of chronic conditions that place additional strains on both health and social support systems. In this scenario, existing health systems must make the transition to new models of care, with a shift towards integrated patient management.

Author(s):

kolitsi

JRT

PDF Version:

European Journal epractice Volume 8.pdf

Articles

eParticipation

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:22:50 +0000

Publication Date:

4 March 2009

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

As the European Union moves towards elections to the European Parliament in June 2009, there is a chance to reflect on the status of democracy and participation across the continent. Never before have there been such contradictory and auspicious developments in thinking about how all sections of European society can engage in policy making and political debate. On the one hand, it is clear that many have disengaged from formal politics, voter turnout is falling, membership of political parties is declining, and there is a widespread sense of a loss of trust in government and politicians. On the other hand, there is a surge of grass-root, often single issue engagement in policy making, people generally are more aware of public policy issues, and there are more outlets and channels enabling participation. Much of this is supported, and in fact driven forward, by new ICT tools. These range from the more traditional emails and electronic forums, to the Web 2.0 phenomenon of social networking, and applications which enable users to upload their own content and manipulate the content of others, as well as facilitate deliberation and debate. Indeed, many commentators have hailed President Obama as the world's first truly Internet politician, and there is no doubt that his intelligent use of ICT in political fundraising and campaigning has opened a new chapter in eParticipation.

Author(s):

J.Millard

PDF Version:

ePractice-Journal-Volume-7.pdf

Articles

Key enablers for eTransformation? eID, Interoperability and Open Source

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:19:52 +0000

Publication Date:

30 January 2009

Volume Number:

Introduction (Homepage):

The European Commission's eGovernment Action Plan considers innovations in eIdentification, interoperability and open source software to be keys to opening the door to the transformational potential of eGovernment. The developers of eGovernment services are therefore directing additional resources on these innovations as a means for providing high impact services. But will initiatives in these areas work? Will they facilitate the efficient and correct operation of public eServices? What does the evidence suggest?

The contributions to this special issue highlight the challenges confronting efforts to create these enabling conditions. Interoperability and appropriate identification systems are major challenges in their own right. As some contributions argue, open source can help some government agencies approach these goals, but it is only one of many strategies that need to be considered.

Author(s):

WDutton

PDF Version:

ePractice-Journal-Volume-6.pdf

Articles