Government Applications of Virtual Communities

Abstract

Local, state and federal governments face a continuing need to supply increased amounts of information to their constituencies. Requests for information involve routine matters such as filing for a building permit, checking a property’s legal description, or looking up employment statistics. Requests for information can also involve more complex matters such as seeking advice on how to file income taxes, how to apply for government-sponsored loan programs and/or jobs, or ways to lobby lawmakers to advance a political point of view. In many cases, individuals are now looking to their governments to interact with them electronically, with the same level of sophistication, accuracy, and timeliness that they are experiencing from other online organizations. As a result, there is a tremendous incentive for governmental agencies to understand the Internet-based needs and wants of their constituencies and to respond to them accordingly. The use of efficient and effective virtual communities and interactive Web sites can assist in this process.