Title:	IMPROVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT – A SURVEY OF PROBLEMS
Author(s):	Maria Kallberg , Proscovia Svärd , Håkan Sundberg
ISBN:	978-972-8939-07-6
Editors:	Piet Kommers and Pedro Isaías
Year:	2010
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	E-Government, Enterprise Architecture, Project Management, Knowledge Management and Long Term Preservation of Information
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	76
Last Page:	84
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	This article is based on a survey of projects directed at improving business operations in two local government bodies in Sweden, Härnösand municipality with a population of 25,000 and Sundsvall municipality with a population of 95,000. The projects are directed at the modernization and improvement of service delivery to their citizens. Both municipalities are conducting projects that will enhance e-government. E-government aims to reform government public management, to allow for citizens’ participation in policy making and to foster efficiency and transparency. This has required the effective deployment of information systems to manage the information resources. Modern information technologies have facilitated the automation of business processes within the municipalities and the delivery of e-services to citizens, who can now access public information via the websites. This development however requires new ways of thinking which promote collaboration beyond the administrative departments and a holistic way of using the available resources. Information management is crucial to the daily decision-making processes and in establishing an efficient and service-minded organization which is customer-centered. However, critical factors regarding project implementation, change management business processes and the challenges of e-government will have to be addressed if successful achievement of agile government structures is to be attained. The article therefore highlights the challenges that still persist as local government bodies try to espouse the modernization process and identifies the areas that need closer examination.
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