Table 2-1-3-2 Four e-government development stages in U.N. surveys

Stage	Outline
Stage 1	Emerging Information ServiceGovernment websites provide information on public policies, governance, law, regulations, relevant documents and types of government services to be provided. The websites provide links to ministries, branches and other government units. Citizens can easily acquire information on new developments at the national government and ministries and find links to archived information.
Stage 2	Enhanced Information ServiceGovernment websites provide one-way or two-way enhanced electronic communications between the government and citizens. For example, forms for government services and applications are available for downloading. The sites feature audio and video functions and are adapted to multiple languages.
Stage 3	Transactional ServiceGovernment websites engage in two-way communications between the government and citizens, allowing the government to request and receive opinions on government policies, programs, regulations, etc. They are required to successfully handle citizens' electronic personal identification. The websites handle nonfinancial transactions, including electronic elections, uploading and downloading of application forms, online tax returns, online personal identification, and online applications for licenses and permits. They also handle financial transactions including money transfers to the government through a safe network.
Stage 4	Connected ServiceGovernment websites can change the ways of communications between the government and citizens. These websites use Web2.0 and other interactive tools to proactively request information and opinions from citizens. Electronic services and solutions seamlessly go across bureaus, departments and ministries. Information, data and knowledge are sent through unified application forms from government agencies. The government shifts from a government-oriented approach to a citizen-oriented approach. Under the latter approach to provide appropriate services, the government selects electronic services for citizens or classified groups over a life cycle. The government has created an environment where citizens are encouraged to further participate in government activities to have opinions in decision-making.

Figure 2-1-3-3 Stage-by-Stage E-Local Government Service Ratios

(Source) MIC "Survey Research on Current State of Local ICT Utilization" (2013)

Of the options for which local governments hope to use the number system, the most frequently cited was the “comprehensive over-the-counter services.” This option was chosen by 71.2% of the respondents in the survey, followed by 63.7% for “unified guidance and procedures for various systems” and 62.8% for cuts in administrative matching and on-site inspection operations.” The percentages exceeded 50% for options other than “the implementation of advanced services” and tended to be higher for options related to improving services for residents. The results indicated that local governments place great expectations on the number system as a tool to not only improve services for residents but also reduce administrative operations and improve the administrative efficiency (Figure 2-1-3-4).

Questioned about challenges for the future expansion of the use of the number system, around 50% of the respondents in the survey said that the expansion would be “financially difficult,” that “specific visions of use or usages are not clear” or that “it would be difficult to build systems common to all sections and regions” (Figure 2-1-3-5).

### c. Open data initiatives

Among local governments, prefectural governments have promoted open data initiatives to a relatively high extent. But most municipal governments have yet to do so. Those answering that they have no interest in and have yet to implement such initiatives accounted for 43.1% of city and special ward municipal governments and 65.8% of town and village municipal governments (Figure 2-1-3-6).