Determining Types of Services and Targeted Users of Emerging E-Government Strategies: The Case of Tanzania

Introduction

Many countries worldwide have recognized the importance of implementing e-government strategies as one of the key options for improving the delivery of government services to their citizens. This has been enhanced by developments in information and communication technology (ICT) coupled with tangible economic benefits that are attached to international collaborative networks brought about by various facets of globalization (UN, 2003; Rycroft & Kash, 2004). Implementing e-government strategies has created an avenue for potential citizen empowerment through direct online access to services in which the users submit their inquiries on issues affecting their development. Such an environment has further challenged participating governments to improve their general performance through increased efficiency, accountability and transparency (Abramson & Means, 2001; Andersen, 2004; Garson, 2004; Heeks, 2002; Ho, 2002; Holliday, 2002; Kalu, 2007; La Porte et al., 2002; Michael & Bates, 2005; UN, 2003). One of the observed major shifts associated with e-government is improved relationship between government agencies and users of government information in terms of delivery of and access to government services.

Therefore, various governments—including those from developing countries—are implementing e-government strategies at various levels of complexity, from simple to sophisticated settings. Moreover, most African countries have been motivated to adopt e-government even though they have to deal with such challenges as poor telecommunications infrastructure and a low level of awareness of the potential benefits of ICTs in development, and relatively low literacy levels (Davidrajuh, 2007; Ifinedo, 2007; Heeks, 2002; Mutula, 2002; Panagopoulos, 2004; Singh & Naidoo, 2005; UN, 2003, 2004). Some of the reasons that might have prompted these countries to implement e-government strategies are associated with the noted advantages drawn from the experiences of other regions of the world. Such advantages have been summarized by the UN (2001) as: potential for more user-centered, transparent and efficient services; cost effectiveness of service delivery; improved quality of services; and spreading all the associated benefits of implementing e-government strategies to the national economy at large. Similar or closely related benefits have been reported by Allen et al. (2001), Bertot et al. (2008), Blackstone et al. (2005), Garson (2004), Heeks (2002), La Porte, et al. (2002), Panagopoulos (2004), Riley (2000), Stowers (2004), and Whitson and Davis (2001).

Much as many governments have adopted e-government, the issue has also attracted researchers from various disciplines. They have conducted such studies as evaluating the status of e-government implementation, related services and users, and the challenges faced by implementing governments or nations (Andersen, 2004; Ho, 2002; Holliday, 2002; Ifinedo, 2007; Lau et al., 2008; Norris, 2005; Reddick, 2004; Salem, 2003; Singh & Naidoo, 2005). For instance, Reddick (2004) takes note of the methods involved in some of e-government research programs (54):