Government and Mobile: Examining the Role of SMS

Abstract

This chapter aims to study a fifteen-year project of Mobile Government (mGov) in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The precocious experience in Brazil in mGov and the number of cell phones used in the country are not arguments for these to be used in providing mass public services. Mason's Historical Method was used to get to know the project, raising available information and retrieving happenings and results. To identify events, relevant actors, their roles, aspects in collaboration, setting and density of the relations among these actors, Social Network Analysis was used. We conclude it is important to formalize the project, but that will not guarantee its continuity in the long run. Characterizing phases minimizes the importance given to the change of governors after new elections in large corporative projects. The networks forming favors the dissemination of IT knowledge among actors. This research shows little evidence that SMS still have long life.