E-Government Scottish Style: Recent Developments and Some Emerging Issues

Abstract

This chapter discusses issues involved in the development of e-government, using recent empirical evidence gathered in Scotland. The research suggests that public sector organisations in Scotland recognize the importance of e-government, but there is a gap between the rhetoric about the potential of e-government and the reality on the ground. In particular, most public sector organisations appear to be more skeptical about the ability of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to break down barriers within and between organisations than those who advocate e-government as a solution to this problem. The current development and some emerging issues will be explored in the Scottish context, and some generic lessons will be highlighted. Finally, a number of themes for future research will be highlighted.