E-government started to appear in the mid-1990s. Today, it embraced by almost all over the world. There are many types of research conducted both in theoretical and practical aspects of e-government. Different writers discussed almost all aspects of e-government. This paper reviews the challenges that face e-government and how to overcome these challenges.
Definitions of E-government
The word “E-Government” is composed of two different words: “electronic” and “government”. It is defined by different scholars based according to their focuses. The common thing that all writers show is the terminologies they give show that e-government is utilizing of information and communication technologies to provide better services to people.
Some definitions limit e-government to internet-based applications only. However, e-government includes all digital activities that are connected to the internet. Some others restrict e-government to government sectors only. It includes governmental and non-governmental activities.
e-government by Dawes (2002) as the utilization of internet-based technology to assist public activities, involve citizens, and supply public services to people (Dawes, 2002).
e-government is explained by World Bank (2002) as the utilization of information and communication technology instruments like wide are networks, mobile computing, and the internet by public agencies to exchange information with citizens, private sectors, and public sectors (World Bank, 2002).
Drucker, P F (2001) explains e-government as the utility of prominent information and communication technologies to simplify the operation of managements (Drucker, 2001).
Randeep (2005) defines saying “e-government is broadly understood as the use of information and communication technologies by the government to enhance the range and quality of government information and services provided to clients in an efficient, cost-effective and convenient, while making government processes more accountable, responsive and transparent (Randeep, 2005).
According to Richard Heeks (2006), e-government is also known as “electronic Government or Digital Government or e-Governance. Government is a rapidly growing phenomenon, which increasingly influences the public sector works and over promises a solution to many public sector problems (Heeks, 2006).
e-government is defined by Bhatnagar (2004) as the use of information and communication technology to manipulate public activities efficiently, effectively and with minimum costs, to make public services easier, more accessible information and to make public sectors work properly according to citizens’ needs (Bhatnagar, 2004).
United Nations (2001) defined e-government as the use of the internet and websites to provide public services to citizens and exchange information between government and citizens (United Nations (UN), 2001, p. 1).
As in the definitions above, there is no commonly accepted definition of e-government. This is partly because the electronic government is a recently originated phenomenon and major English dictionaries do not list it (Bhatnagar, 2004).
The keyword here is the government; not electronic. E-government should be considered as a facilitator, complementary and alternative approach to public management and service delivery. This approach should be a system to redefine the method by which governments interact with their people and civil service sectors.