bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactive Models for Virtual Enterprises
Authors: Jorgensen Håvard D. , Krogstie John
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a novel approach to the development, integration, and operation of virtual enterprises (VEs). The approach is based on the idea of interactive models. An interactive model is a visual model of enterprise aspects that can be viewed, traversed, analyzed, simulated, adapted, and executed by the participants of the VE. The approach has been developed in several research projects, where experiences from industrial case studies are used as a basis for validation and further enhancement. A major result of this work is the model-driven infrastructure that integrates and supports VEs. The main innovative contributions of this infrastructure include concurrent modelling, metamodelling, management and performance of work, integrated support for ad hoc and structured processes, and customizable model- and process-driven integration.
Adaptive Virtual Reality Museums on the Web
Authors: Lepouras George , Vassilakis Costas
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents an architecture for supporting the creation of adaptive virtual reality museums on the Web. It argues whether the task of developing adaptive virtual reality museums is a complex one, presenting key challenges, and should thus be facilitated by means of a supporting architecture and relevant tools. The proposed architecture is flexible enough to cater for a variety of user needs, and modular promoting extensibility, maintainability, and tailorability. Adoption of this architecture will greatly simplify the development of adaptive virtual reality museums, reducing the needed effort to exhibit digitisation and user profile specification; user profiles are further refined dynamically through the user data recorder and the user modelling engine, which provide input for the virtual environment generator.
Supporting the JAD Facilitator with the Nominal Group Technique
Authors: Duggan Evan W. , Thachenkary Cherian S.
Published: May 2011

Joint application development (JAD) was introduced in the late 1970s to solve many of the problems system users experienced with the conventional methods used in systems requirements determination (SRD) and has produced noteworthy improvements over these methods. However, a JAD session is conducted with freely interacting groups, which makes it susceptible to the problems that have curtailed the effectiveness of groups. JAD outcomes are also critically dependent on excellent facilitation for minimizing dysfunctional group behaviors. Many JAD efforts are not contemplated (and some fail) because such a person is often unavailable. The nominal group technique (NGT) was designed to reduce the impact of negative group dynamics. An integration of JAD and NGT is proposed here as a crutch to reduce the burden of the JAD facilitator in controlling group sessions during SRD. This approach, which was tested empirically in a laboratory experiment, appeared to outperform JAD alone in the areas tested and seemed to contribute to excellent group outcomes even without excellent facilitation.
Users as Developers
Authors: Burns Beryl , Light Ben
Published: May 2011

We report the findings of a field study of the enactment of ICT supported knowledge work in a Human Resources contact centre, illustrating the negotiable boundary between what constitutes the developer and user. Drawing upon ideas from the social shaping of technology, we examine how discussions regarding producer-user relations require a degree of greater sophistication as we show how users develop technologies and work practices in-situ. In this case different forms of knowledge are practised to create and maintain a knowledge sharing system. We show how as staff simultaneously distance themselves from, and ally with, ICT supported encoded knowledge scripts, the system becomes materially important to the project of constructing the knowledge characteristic of professional identity. Our work implies that although much has been made of contextualising the user, as a user, further work is required to contextualise users as developers and moreover, developers as users.
Adaptable Navigation in a SCORM Compliant Learning Module
Authors: Gauss Boris , Urbas Leon
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about the use of metaphors and adaptable navigation in the context of the technological standard SCORM. Our theoretical focus is on hypertext navigation in SCORM compliant learning modules and the potential of adaptable navigation metaphors within this standard. In the empirical section, we present a case study about navigation design and usability evaluation of a learning module prototype. This learning module was developed for the subject matter of steady-state modelling in process systems engineering, and features an adaptable navigation with a novel process control metaphor. We conclude with a discussion on the didactical value of navigation metaphors and adaptability in SCORM, and provide some suggestions for future research in this area.
End-User Computing Success Measurement
Authors: Shayo Conrad , Guthrie Ruth A.
Published: May 2011

End-user computing (EUC) is the optional development of computer applications and models by personnel (individuals or groups) outside the MIS department. The emergence of EUC in the 80s and early 90s can be traced to the proliferation of computers, increased organizational computing needs, more sophisticated user application development tools coupled with higher computer and information literacy among staff and professional workers. Prior to the arrival of personal computers and graphical user interfaces, end users relied on data processing (now information technology) personnel to assist in meeting their information needs (Inman, 1986). Programming a mainframe was beyond the skills of most workers.
Exploring the Behavioral Dimension of Client/Server Technology Implementation
Authors: Lauría Eitel J.M.
Published: May 2011

This paper explores the impact of human factor and organizational behavior on the outcome of information technology implementation projects. Client/server technology implementation is used as the leading case, given the fact that it is a good example of a major paradigm shift. The results draw attention to the importance of end-user interaction and the maturity level of organizations as significant factors in the success and benefits of the project. Client/server projects seem to be more successful, are executed in a more timely manner, and yield greater benefits when end users take an active participation in some of the stages, particularly during the implementation phase.
Inhibitors of Two Illegal Behaviors
Authors: Zhang Lixuan , Young Randall , Prybutok Victor
Published: May 2011

The means by which the United States justice system attempts to control illegal hacking are practiced under the assumption that illegal hacking is like any other illegal crime. This article evaluates this assumption by comparing illegal hacking to shoplifting. Three inhibitors of two illegal behaviors are examined: informal sanction, punishment severity, and punishment certainty. A survey of 136 undergraduate students attending a university and 54 illegal hackers attending the Defcon conference in 2003 was conducted. The results show that both groups perceive a higher level of punishment severity but a lower level of informal sanction for hacking than for shoplifting. The findings show that hackers perceive a lower level of punishment certainty for hacking than for shoplifting but that students perceive a higher level of punishment certainty for hacking than for shoplifting. The results add to the stream of information security research and provide significant implications for law makers and educators aiming to combat hacking.
Privacy Statements as a Means of Uncertainty Reduction in WWW Interactions
Authors: Pollach Irene
Published: May 2011

Grounded in Uncertainty Reduction Theory, the present study analyzes the content of 50 privacy policies from well-known commercial Web sites with a view to identifying starting points for improving the quality of online privacy policies. Drawing on traditional content analysis and computer-assisted textual analysis, the study shows that privacy policies often omit essential information and fail to communicate data handling practices in a transparent manner. To reduce Internet users’ uncertainty about data handling practices and to help companies build stable relationships with users, privacy policies need to explain not only the data collection and sharing practices a company engages in but also those practices in which companies do not engage. Further, more exact lexical choice in privacy policies would increase the transparency of data handling practices and, therefore, user trust in World Wide Web (WWW) interactions. The results also call for less verbose texts and alternatives to the current narrative presentation format.
A Two-Tier Approach to Elicit Enterprise Portal User Requirements
Authors: Tsui Eric
Published: May 2011

Organizations are increasingly turning to enterprise portals to support knowledge work. Portal deployment can be intradepartmental across several business units in one organization or even inter-organizational. Currently in the industry, most of these portals are purchased solutions (e.g., collaboration and smart enterprise suites) and many of these purchasing and selection decisions are primarily driven by the interest of a small group of stakeholders with strong influence from IT vendors. The true requirements for the portal as well as the strategy for its medium- to long-term phased deployment are, in general, poorly addressed. This, together with other reasons, has lead to many failures or to a low adoption rate of the enterprise portal by staff at various levels of an organization. Common problems that hinder portal adoption include lack of an overall governance model, mis-alignment with business processes, poor or non-existent content management (process, tools, and governance), and technical problems associated with the development and configuration of portlets. This article focuses on one critical issue that directly influences the success of an enterprise portal deployment, namely the correct elicitation of user requirements (which in turn lead to the chosen portal’s features and to the style of the portal interface). Taking into consideration the advancement and landscape of commercial portal vendors in the market, this article discusses a bottom-up approach to the identification of high-level drivers for portal usages for its users.
Managing and Practicing OD in an IT Environment
Authors: Logan J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a framework for improving success in information technology (IT) projects by leveraging the organization development (OD) practitioner’s expertise in fostering cooperation and learning in teams. It argues that IT project failure can be addressed and prevented by building teams that anticipate and recover from issues of communication, goal clarity, and internal support. The author intends this framework to provide a foundation for OD practitioners and IT project teams to engage the domain knowledge of each in order to successfully execute projects that are cooperative, focused on improvement through learning, and ultimately dedicated to more productive outcomes for the organizations they serve.
The Past, Present, and Future of End-User Performance
Authors: Jawahar I. M.
Published: May 2011

Over the last decade, end-user computing has become an integral part of the organizational landscape. The emergence of end-user computing can be attributed to the necessity to manage and to effectively use information to function in a knowledge-based economy. Because of the increased organizational computing needs, computer literacy requirements have skyrocketed for clerical and support staff and for many middle and senior management positions (Bowman, Grupe, & Simkin, 1995). The proliferation of microcomputers and the availability of sophisticated user application tools (Shayo, Guthrie, & Igbaria, 1999) have facilitated the widespread implementation of end-user computing technology.
Toward Always-On Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Bajgoric N.
Published: May 2011

Significant changes in information technology (IT), the Internet, and e-business technology have increased the need for continuous and agile data access, in particular for mission-critical applications. Modern business computing has evolved into an organizational engine that drives business and provides a powerful source for competitive advantage. IT has been integrated into organizational operations and activities in a way that application downtime is not an option since each hour, even minute of downtime may generate negative financial effects. In order to achieve higher levels of competitiveness, business has to be continuous from data availability perspective and agile with regard to data access. An enterprise information system (EIS) can be qualified as “high-quality” in terms of its architecture, application platform, and information it can provide to users but if that information is unavailable when it is needed by customer, manager, or any other end user, the value of that EIS simply becomes “zeroed” from end-users’ point of view. The chapter presents a framework for implementation of continuous computing technologies for improving business continuity. The framework is presented within a systemic view of developing an “always-on” enterprise information system.
The First Leg of E-Government Research
Authors: Anderson Kim Viborg , Henriksen Helle Zinner
Published: May 2011

A comprehensive analysis of 110 peer-reviewed journal papers published from 1998 to 2003 suggests that the conceptual domains and application areas covered by e-government research focus predominately on capabilities and interactions, whereas value distributions and policy orientations are largely ignored. Onwards, e-government research is more concerned with conceptualizing government and e-services than in exploring the governmental role in technology diffusion and the role IT plays in democracy and participation. This orientation of the current research body is an indicator that the legacy of IS research themes dominates the e-government research body and that interdisciplinary research involving core public administration research along with IS research is yet to emerge. It is proposed that the field could be more unified if it considered both the e and the government of e-government.
Ethics of Digital Government
Authors: Kapucu Naim
Published: May 2011

The Internet is at once a new communications medium and a new locus for social organization on a global basis. A digital government will allow public access to government information and services, and group participation in discussions at any time and from anywhere on the globe. Digital government is regarded as the most recent development in the evolving application of electronic information technology to the performance of government. The development and migration of the technologies, as well as applications of information technology in support of government operations are other important aspects. New policies have been passed by legislative bodies to ensure the proper management and implementations of these technologies and the systems they serve, their protection from physical harm, and the security and privacy of their information. The growth of digital government has increased governments’ ability to collect, store, analyze, and disclose private personal and organizational information (Fountain, 2001). In the rapidly evolving environments of digital technology, it is impossible to anticipate the leading-edge ethical issues. However, there are solid ethical imperatives to use these principles ethical behavior for resolution of the issues (Anderson, 2004). This article will focus on privacy and confidentiality of individual private information in digital environment.
E-Government in the UK
Authors: Hudson John
Published: May 2011

Like many of its western counterparts, the United Kingdom (UK) government has a long history of using IT in the administration and delivery of public services. Indeed, as early as 1959 mainframe computers were introduced in order to automate some routine aspects of public administration (Margetts & Willcocks, 1992, p. 329). However, it was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s—as the UK rose to the forefront of the emerging microcomputer industry—that IT featured in policy discourse in anything other than an extremely minor fashion. Even then—despite the appointment of Kenneth Baker as the government’s first Information Technology Minister in 1981—the issue did not feature prominently and there was nothing approaching the equivalence of the neighbouring French government’s review of the long-term social and economic policy implications of L’Informatisation d’Societe commissioned in 1976 by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (Nora & Minc, 1980). In fact, one former government minister claimed in his diaries that Baker’s appointment to the government had more to do with finding a minor role for a politician piqued at his omission from the Cabinet than with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s belief in the importance of IT related issues (Lawson, 1992). However, the agenda began to gather some pace following Thatcher’s departure in 1990. Under the helm of Prime Minister John Major, the Conservatives introduced a number of important policies—including a series of industrially focused information society initiatives aimed at boosting the use of ICTs by business. In addition, prompted perhaps by the popular emergence of the Internet, other branches of government began to show a greatly increased interest in the issue. For instance, a Parliamentary committee—the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee (1996)—produced a major report on the implications of the information society for government. In addition, the publication of a major study on the same issue by the European Union (1994) added weight to the emerging agenda. Shortly before losing power in 1997, the Major government produced what was arguably the UK government’s first systematic consideration of the implications of ICTs for government when it published an exploratory Green Paper titled Government.Direct (CITU, 1996). Though it came too late in the life of the government to advance its ideas any further than the discussion stage, it at least served to heighten the prominence of the agenda (Hudson, 2002).
The Application of Single-Source Publishing to E-Government
Authors: Walsh Lucas
Published: May 2011

The following article provides an introductory overview of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and how it may be applied to certain processes of e-government to improve accessibility to government services as well as to make governments’ services more widely available. In particular, this discussion explores how the kind of single-source framework used in digital publishing can be used to drive the storage, delivery, and exchange of e-government information and services. The first section of this article provides a basic introduction to XML. The second part illustrates how content is prepared and disseminated using XML, providing some existing and hypothetical examples of this single-source approach. The final section looks at future trends as well as some of the challenges that may be encountered when using this XML-based single-source framework.
Benchmarking Electonic Democracy
Authors: Amoretti Francesco
Published: May 2011

Electronic democracy refers to the use of information technology (IT) to expedite or transform the idea and practice of democracy. (Street, 2001, p. 4397) From the beginning, a common assumption in many discussions of e-democracy is that ICTs have the power to augur in a new political order. There are of course different ideas about what constitutes as an e-democracy, but it appears to be taken for granted that ICTs have this constructive power regardless of the conditions and environment in which they are used (Barber, 1984). Whilst the most significant experiences in the field of ICTs have been generated by bottom-up processes rooted in civil society, a great deal of e-democracy projects are characterised by the political action of national and supranational institutions. The enormous resources spent on e-democracy initiatives and the institutional structure of democratic societies that place pressure on politicians and decision makers to justify their decisions in relation to those they represent both generate a need for public evaluation tools and shared instruments of analysis. Moreover, as information technology tends to create spaces of interaction that are easily accessible and interconnected on a global scale, the need for standardised empirical definitions and indicators is attracting more and more attention (Gibson, Ward, & Rommele, 2004; Trechsel, Kies, Mendez, & Schmitter, 2004). Benchmarking, in this context, is a method of analysis that comprises the identification of significant factors that influence the perceived quality of an interactive virtual space and that facilitates a constant process of comparative monitoring and evaluation of experiences. Many institutions and research centres are currently committed to this task, deducing empirical frameworks of analysis from theoretical reflections about computer-mediated communication (CMC) and democracy, whilst simultaneously seeking to improve theories regarding electronic democracy—and democracy tout court—by the observation and comparison of diverse projects. The output of this kind of research is often a set of best practices, intended to export successful approaches from one country to another.
Natural Resource Information Management at State GovernmentLevel
Authors: Redlich Lindsay , Gersekowski Peter , Middleton Michael Middleton
Published: May 2011

Spatial information management (SIM), which includes utilization of geographical information systems (GIS), is used in a wide variety of information resource applications. GIS applications have been able to make use of the extraordinary expansion in available data from remote sensing operations such as satellite imagery. SIM has been able to build upon these systems using software support for spatial databases and interactive mapping applications. Private sector applications tend to be specific to sectors of interest, whereas public sector systems have wide application across sectors. The information management that is applied has a technical dimension facilitated by GIS. It also has analytical and strategic dimensions that require detailed investigation and planning for the corporate context in which the SIM is undertaken. This contribution provides a brief overview of some of the contextual influences on SIM, and then details a case study of a particular application to natural resource information management in a government department.
E-Government Development and Implementation
Authors: Huang Wayne , Chen Yinging , Wang K. L.
Published: May 2011

This article intends to review important research issues in e-government and aims to shed light on future studies on e-government in a global setting. Specifically, this article: (1) reviews the background and development of e-government in developed and developing countries; and (2) identifies and discusses key issues and future trends/challenges in e-government research, which provides some insights and directions for future studies in e-government.
Digital Government Development
Authors: Knepper Richard , Chen Yu-Che
Published: May 2011

Effective implementation of digital government requires a well-articulated and sound strategy. Having a sound strategy is considered as the first and most important step in securing the success of information technology projects (Fletcher, 1999). Unfortunately, failures in the form of cost overruns, delays, and implementation problems are commonplace in digital government projects (Heeks, 1999). If executed properly, a strategic plan can help public organizations realize the full potential of an information technology investment. The framework proposed in this article attempts to identify the factors behind the successful design and development of a national digital government strategy, taking a normative perspective of policy and institutional design with emphasis on informing policymakers. A national strategy is the critical first step in building digital government. National digital government strategies, such as UK Online, e-Japan, and e-Korea, are commonplace. Critical success factors have been identified in other research which examines individual IT projects at both state and local levels (Heeks, 1999; Dawes et al., 1997). Since national strategic plans provide the framework in which most digital government projects are prioritized, designed, and implemented, it is important to study these large-scale plans. However, there is a shortage of research-based frameworks for guiding the development of a national strategy. The comprehensive framework proposed in this article with a short illustration of application to a cross-country comparison offers policymakers a number of suggestions for developing sound national digital government strategies.1
A Heuristic Model to Implement Government-to-Government Projects
Authors: Joia Luis Antonio
Published: May 2011

Electronic government has proven a watershed in the domain of public administration, despite being difficult to pin down precisely. Indeed, the government-to-government arena is one of the least studied aspects of this newly established field of knowledge. This article aims to present a heuristic model to implement government-to-government endeavors effectively. The framework presented in this article was largely drawn from an actual government-to-government case study successfully implemented in Brazil. From the analysis of this explanatory case study involving the Brazilian Central Bank and the Brazilian Justice Department, some key success factors were singled out, as well as the major hurdles to be overcome and causes thereof. These findings led the researcher to propose a heuristic framework not only to explain the conclusions drawn from the case study presented, but also to help researchers, practitioners and policy-makers to deploy government-to-government projects adequately.
Accessible E-Government through Universal Design
Authors: Peter Ulrike
Published: May 2011

The accessible design of e-government ensures that these offers can also be used by people with disabilities (accessibility). Moreover, experience shows that clarity and comprehensibility of the offers benefit from their careful and deliberate design and structuring while keeping in mind accessibility requirements. Therefore, accessibility is useful for all citizens who want to attend to their administrative issues via the Internet (universal design). Accessibility as a cross-sectional subject has to be considered holistically: On the one hand, following the “universal design” principle, it becomes clear that all users benefit from an accessible solution, independent of their abilities and independent of their situation, environment or conditions. On the other hand, especially in e-government, the complete business process has to be considered: An offer accessible in itself may not be usable if an installation routine or plug-in has to be loaded from a non-accessible page or if the work procedure involves a media break.
E-Development in Bangladesh
Authors: Sarwar Mohammed Jabed
Published: May 2011

Numerous factors, like political stability, physical infrastructure, basic healthcare, and so forth influence the extent and speed of social and economic development. There is no suggestion that ICT can eliminate the need for these or offer a panacea for all development problems. But detail analyses of experience around the world reveal ample evidence that, if used in the right way and for the right purposes, ICT can have a dramatic impact on achieving specific socio-economic development goals, as well as, play a key role in broader national development strategies. The real benefits lie not in the provision of technology rather in its application to create powerful socio-economic networks by drastically improving communication and the exchange of information (Vulkan, 1999). Recent developments in the fields of communications and information technology are indeed revolutionary in nature. Information and knowledge are expanding in quantity and accessibility. In many fields, future decision-makers will be presented with unprecedented new tools for development. In such fields as agriculture, health, education, human resources and environmental management, or transport and business development, the consequences could be really quite revolutionary. Communications and information technology have enormous potential, especially for developing countries, and in furthering sustainable development (Hamelink, 1997). ICTs have therefore brought about a new hope for the developing world. Many of these countries continue to labor in the agricultural age and their economic development is thus restricted and unable to move on and catch up with the developed world. Most developing nations have also been unable to industrialize their economies leading to greater impoverishment and dependence. In this context, the very prospect of “leapfrogging” the traditional stages and cycles of progress, is seen as revolutionary. Telemedicine, distance education, wireless applications, the use of the Internet for a wide variety of critical information dissemination tasks—hold the promise of overcoming fundamental barriers of infrastructure which have plagued the developing world (Mody, 1999).
E-Business Adoption in SMEs
Authors: Xu Mark , Rohatgi Ravni , Duan Yanqing
Published: May 2011

The lack of anticipated engagement in e-business by Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) is a rising concern to the UK government and service providers alike. This article is based on the e-adoption model to examine the current practice of e-business technology adoption in SMEs and the driving forces for and against the adoption. Through interviews with 40 owner managers in the electronic components industry, the article reveals that most of the small firms in this industry are at the lower level of the “e-adoption ladder”—predominantly using the Internet and e-mail. SMEs in this industry have not yet widely engaged in online transactions. The current level of adoption is driven by both internal and external factors, including operational benefits, industry common practice, and peer pressure. External forces such as a lack of push from suppliers and customers and a lack of strategic vision of using advanced e-business technology for competitive advantages have determinant effects on the level and scale of e-adoption in SME sector. The e-adoption ladder model is modified by incorporating the influential factors identified within this study. The findings have many implications for researchers, service providers, and policy makers.
E-Government in Shanghai
Authors: Chen Youwen , Yan Rong
Published: May 2011

Chinese e-government was launched at the beginning of 1990s. It is necessary to develop e-government not only for the appeal of information technology and the government’s reform in the social and economic transition, but also for the demand of joining WTO (Wu & Zhang, 2003). Due to the developments in social organization, economy, and information infrastructure in China, e-government still remains at the initial stage (China E-government Research Center, 2002). Shanghai, as the largest and most flourishing city in China, is superior to other areas of China in hardware (information infrastructure, etc.) and software (e.g., “citizens’ concept”) (Qiao, 2004). Shanghai’s experiences may be the example for other provinces and cities, for (1) the e-government of Shanghai was named as a model by National Informatization Commission (NIC) in 2001; and (2) Shanghai leads the development of e-government in China. For example, Shanghai is the first local government to construct governmental Web portal, to provide online services and to make legal rules about open public information. This article describes the development of e-government in Shanghai, analyzes its predicament, and probes into its future trends.
Evaluating Open Source in Government
Authors: Wernberg-Tougaard Christian , Schmitz Patrice-Emmanuel , Herning Kristoffer , Gøtze John
Published: May 2011

The use of free and open source software (F/OSS) in the public sector has been accelerating over the last ten years. The benefits seem to be obvious: No licensing costs, unlimited flexibility, vendor independence, a support community, and so forth. But as with everything else in life, a successful implementation of F/OSS in government is not as simple as it might look initially. The implementation of F/OSS should build on a solid evaluation of core business criteria in all their complexity. In this chapter we analyze the evaluation considerations that government bodies should undertake before deciding between F/OSS and traditional software (SW), including the way knowledge networks and communities of practice work, total cost of ownership, and core functional requirements. The chapter presents a methodology conceptualizing this process in a comprehensive framework, focusing on the interaction between the strategic and business process level and the SW/infrastructure level. The chapter aims at presenting a framework enabling IT strategist and management from the “business side” of public sector institutions to evaluate F/OSS vs. traditional SW in tight cooperation with the IT side of the organization.
Interactive E-Government
Authors: Barnes Stuart J. , Vidgen Richard
Published: May 2011

As government organizations have begun increasingly to communicate and interact with citizens via the Web, providing services has demanded acute understanding of the requirements of users and appropriate tailoring of solutions. In this article, we examine the results of a survey of the quality of a Web site provided by the UK Government. The site is that of the Inland Revenue. The survey was administered directly after the launch of a new system to enable online submission of self-assessed tax returns. The instrument, E-Qual, draws on previous work in Web site usability, information quality, and service interaction quality to provide a rounded framework for assessing e-government offerings. The metrics and qualitative comments provide some detailed insights into the perceptions of users who attempted to interact with the online taxation system. The results point to specific areas in need of development in the Web site, which are found to be consistent with initiatives launched recently by the Inland Revenue.
The Role of E-Government in Rebuilding Bosnia-Herzegovina
Authors: Handzic Meliha
Published: May 2011

The world is currently experiencing a period of major change. The emerging new world is variously referred to as the third wave, the information age, the information society, or the knowledge-based economy. Regardless of the terminology used, what matters is that the new social, political, and economic world is globalized, based on the production, distribution, and use of knowledge, and is heavily reliant on information and communication technology (Handzic, 2004a). It is also characterized by increased complexity, uncertainty, and surprises. Some analysts like Raich (2000) think of it as a period of living in the centre of the “Bermuda Triangle” where individuals, organizations, and societies have to deal with the increasing turbulence and speed of change in order to progress. The rise of the information society has brought major changes in citizen and business expectations, as well as organizational structures, cultures, and work processes. To remain responsive to the changing needs of their constituents, governments increasingly have to adopt information society tools and working practices. Essentially, they have to use information and communication technology (ICT) as tools in private and public sector renewal, develop information industry, maintain high level of professional expertise in ICT, provide opportunities to use information society services and have information infrastructure capable of providing such services. The purpose of this article is to explore how these processes are helping in rebuilding Bosnia-Herzegovina.
E-Voting in the United States
Authors: Moynihan Donald P.
Published: May 2011

Many aspects of government have seen improvements in reliability, customer interface, speed, and cost as a result of digital innovations. In some jurisdictions, the most antiquated aspects of government are the voting technologies used during elections. Such technologies are expensive and used infrequently, which discourages public investment in updates. However, in close elections, any unreliability in these technologies can have a major impact on who takes control of government. The 2000 U.S. Presidential election hinged on the state of Florida, where antiquated punch-card voting machines, combined with poorly designed ballots and unclear recounting standards, were blamed for a high degree of uncertainty during a drawn-out recount process. This chapter looks at the growing adoption of e-voting in the form of direct recording electronic (DRE) machines in the U.S. following the 2000 election. Lawmakers enthusiastically endorsed the concept of e-voting with only a limited understanding of the risks involved. E-voting can be implemented in a number of ways—with or without a printed paper ballot, with open or proprietary software—that affect some of the risks associated with it. But some theorists of complex systems and many computer security specialists warn that any complex technology like e-voting machines are prone to failure and should not be trusted to count votes. A loosely coordinated online protest movement offered the argument that election reformers were moving too fast. E-voting since has received negative press coverage, which, in some cases, has slowed down the adoption of or led to additional requirements on the use of DREs.
A Protocol for Anonymous and Accurate E-Polling
Authors: Bruschi Danilo , Lanzi Andrea , Fovino Igor Nai
Published: May 2011

E-polling systems are a fundamental component of any E-democracy system as they represent the most appropriate tool for fostering citizens participation to public debates. Contrarily to e-voting protocols, they are characterized by less stringent security requirements and they can also tolerate errors affecting a small percentage of votes, without compromising of the final result. Thus, their realization can be effectively pursued supporting the diffusion of e-democracy. In this paper we propose a simple protocol for an accurate and anonymous e-polling system. Such a protocol satisfies, among the others, the following properties: a vote cannot be altered, duplicated, or removed without being detected, votes remain anonymous. Moreover voters will be able to measure the level of trust of the process by verifying that their own votes have been correctly counted.
Biometric Identities and E-Government Services
Authors: Scott Murray , Hill Séamus , Acton Thomas , Hughes Martin
Published: May 2011

Governments are using the Internet and e-commerce technologies to provide public services to their citizens (Watson & Mundy, 2001). In so doing, governments aim to form better relationships with businesses and citizens by providing more efficient and effective services (Al-Kibisi, de Boer, Mourshed, & Rea, 2001). E-government provides opportunities to streamline and improve internal governmental processes, enable efficiencies in service delivery, and improve customer service (Bannister & Walsh, 2002). As a result, achieving successful e-government delivered over the Internet has become a key concern for many governments (Eyob, 2004). Additionally, there are privacy, security, and trust issues for citizens interacting with government services compounded by the electronic nature of the interaction. Biometric identifiers may present a solution to some of these concerns, leading to increased levels of secure, private, and trusted e-government interactions.
A Flexible Directory Query Language for the Efficient Processing of Service Composition Queries
Authors: Binder Walter , Constantinescu Ion , Faltings Boi
Published: May 2011

Service composition is a major challenge in an open environment populated by large numbers of heterogeneous services. In such a setting, the efficient interaction of directory-based service discovery with service composition engines is crucial. In this article we present a Java-based directory that offers special functionality enabling effective service composition. In order to optimize the interaction of the directory with different service composition algorithms exploiting application-specific heuristics, the directory supports user-defined selection and ranking functions written in a declarative query language. Inside the directory queries are transformed and compiled to JVM bytecode which is dynamically linked into the directory. The compiled query enables a best-first search of matching directory entries, efficiently pruning the search space.
AJAX in Development of Web-Based Architecture for Implementation of E-Governance
Authors: Sharma Dilip Kumar , Upadhyay Ashwani Kumar
Published: May 2011

This article analyzes the diffusion of a Web technology named AJAX in facilitating e-government architecture and enhancing its potential by enablement of modern Web features as democracy and collaboration. Flexibility needed for free flow of interactive collaboration, compatibility, and robustness is treated as vital in the chapter. Major enterprises that have created landmarks in terms of participation of individuals and enterprises, along with contemporary Web technologies, are also analyzed to consolidate priority of technologies befitting robust and sustainable Web architecture. Emphasis is on the point that a proper collaboration among private, public, and government entities can only be achieved by proper information dissemination and acceptance of competent Web technologies, AJAX being one of them. Features of AJAX such as sectional processing ability, speed, bridging, portability, and compatibility are viewed with criticality for practical establishment.
E-Participation and Canadian Parliamentarians
Authors: Francoli Mary
Published: May 2011

During the last decade, the public policies of many countries have emphasized the need for greater citizen participation in decision-making, and governments have been adopting e-government strategies as a means of not only improving service delivery, but also engaging society and revitalizing democracy. Indeed, many political leaders have been advancing the democratic potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs). British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, has stated: “I believe that the information society can revitalize our democracy...innovative electronic media is pioneering new ways of involving people of all ages and backgrounds in citizenship through new Internet and digital technology ... that can only strengthen democracy” (Hansard Society, 2004). Similarly, former United States President Bill Clinton stated that ICTs would “give the American people the Information Age that they deserve—to cut red tape, improve the responsiveness of government toward citizens, and expand opportunities for democratic participation” (Prins, 2001, p. 79). In Canada, former Prime Minister Paul Martin also argued, along the same vein, that people need to be brought into the decision-making process if the country is to have the kind of future that it needs, indicating that ICTs are a useful means of achieving this goal (Speech to the 2003 Crossing Boundaries Conference, Ottawa Canada).
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Authors: Esterling Kevin , Lazer David M.J. , Neblo Michael A.
Published: May 2011

To date, research on e-government has devoted relatively little attention to how legislators use the Internet to enhance the representative function. In this paper, we seek to explain statistically the variation in the quality of Web sites among members of the US Congress. The dependent variable for the preliminary analysis is an ordered categorical rating of the Quality of each member’s Web site on a 5-point grading scale ranging from A to F. The model specification is derived from the political science literature on Congress, including measures of electoral situation, the local situation, and the intra-institutional situation. The cross sectional findings suggest that shorter tenure and closer electoral margin both independently contribute to successful innovation; members appear to adopt new technologies when constituents are connected to the Internet; and members representing districts of lower socio-economic status tend to have better quality Web sites.
ICT as an Example of Industrial Policy in EU
Authors: Falch Morten , Henten Anders
Published: May 2011

A substantial part of the economic growth that has taken place within the past 2 decades is related to information and communication technology (ICT). First, the ICT sector itself has achieved very high growth rates. Second, productivity gains in other sectors have been achieved, to a large extent, through implementation of ICT-related innovations. It is, therefore, no surprise that ICT plays an important role in virtually all industrial policy programs. Policies stimulating e-government are one of the ingredients in such programs. In 2000, the leaders of the European Union (EU) adopted the Lisbon strategy to make the EU the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world (CEC, 2000). ICT was seen as a key component in achieving these goals1, and a special program—eEurope—has been designed to realize the Lisbon goals in the ICT area. This program is, however, also a continuation of a wide range of ICT initiatives taken by the EU Commission since 1984.
Courts on the Web in Russia
Authors: Trochev Alexei
Published: May 2011

When the Internet reached Russia in the mid-1990s, Russian judicial chiefs actively embraced the idea of having a solid presence of national judiciary on the Web. To judges, having court Web sites would improve public awareness about Russian courts and relieve overloaded court clerks from answering mundane questions about the location of courthouses, hours of work, schedule of hearings, court forms, and so on. However, the chronic underfinancing of Russian courts in the 1990s and the decentralized nature of the Russian judiciary made the creation and the maintenance of the lower courts’ Web sites much more sporadic. Improving public awareness about Russian courts is a priority for Russian judges, who increasingly issue impartial decisions yet at the same time face growing public skepticism about judicial performance (Solomon, 2003, 2004; Trochev, 2006). As the growing number of studies of the information and communication technologies (ICT) in courthouses around the world show, computerized courts can both speed up the administration of justice and strengthen public trust in the judicial system (Bueno, Ribeiro, & Hoeschl, 2003; Dalal, 2005; Fabri & Contini, 2001; Fabri & Langbroek, 2000; Fabri, Jean, Langbroek, & Pauliat, 2005; Langbroek & Fabri, 2004; Oskamp, Lodder, & Apistola, 2004; Valentini, 2003; Malik, 2002). Indeed, as the recent research demonstrates, those who know something about the courts: either about court procedures or about court-ordered public policies, tend to trust the judiciary and to comply with court decisions (Baird, 2001; Gibson, Caldeira., & Baird, 1998; Kritzer & Voelker, 1998; Tyler & Mitchell, 1994; Tyler, Boeckmann, Smith, & Huo, 1997). This article focuses on the Web sites of Russian courts as the virtual gateways in the world of judicial administration (Trochev, 2002) and discusses challenges of adapting Russian court Web sites to the needs of various users of judicial system: judges themselves, law-enforcement agencies, actual litigants, general public and scholars (Toharia, 2003).