E-Government: It's All About the Relationships

Beth Simone Noveck’s book Wiki Government explores the ways in which government has been able to use technology to its advantage: improving service delivery, promoting democratic exchange, and strengthening civil society. According to Darrell West, “E-government refers to the delivery of information and services online through the Internet or other digital means.” Thus E-government maximizes the utility of the tasks government is already committed to achieving and strengthens connections. In the simplest of terms, E-government builds and strengthens relationships, characterized by the interactions among government agencies, businesses, citizens, states, and nonprofits.

I think about how I regularly benefit from some of the government’s use of technology. Growing up, I watched my dad sit down with his check book and stuff an envelope for each of our utility providers. Now, every time I want to pay my electric bill, I merely log on to the city of Newark’s website and watch the money disappear instantly from my bank account. The ease of this process is undeniable, but because the task has become simpler, I also find that I push off paying my bills until the last minute. However, while E-procurement at times enables me to meet certain responsibilities “later” (which isn’t always the best for being proactive), I also begin to think about how much it benefits the city accounting office on the other end. At the end of the day, fewer papers to file or checks to cash is a help to local bureaucrats. Nevertheless, this shift from the paper-shuffling logistical tasks requires a more tech-savvy workforce, even at the lowest levels of local government.

Aside from the convenience of E-government, from filing my tax return online to driving through the EZ-Pass lane (a private company serving government transportation services), there is also tremendous value of this technology for law enforcement. E-enforcement encompasses the cameras used to track for highway violations and the software that detects those who avoid paying use tax. However, enforcement isn’t just developing the pre-existing government services like traffic control. With increased cyber crime, law enforcement has had to develop its intelligence out of necessity. Thus technology has not only shifted the delivery of government services but has expanded the role of government in order to match the growth of these advances.

All of this comes down to relationships. As a citizen, it is easier for me to use government services, at least in terms of paying my bills. I experience the benefits of a private-public partnership with EZ-Pass. Through my current work and upcoming internship with a nonprofit, I am aware of how government is able to funnel grant money more easily to the organization. The relationships and networks among government and the various sectors of society always existed. We now have the privilege of improving the efficiency of these connections and enhancing service delivery in everyday life.