Integrating Conceptual Approaches to E-Government

Abstract

In general terms, electronic government (or digital government) refers to the selection, implementation, and use of information and communication technologies in government settings (Dawes & Pardo, 2002; Fountain, 2001; Garson, 2004; Moon, 2002). E-government research is a transdisciplinary endeavor including traditions such as public administration, public policy, management information systems, operations management, and information science. Partially because of the novelty of the concept, but also because of its multidisciplinary nature, the concept of e-government is still a work in progress. The purpose of this article is to review different definitions and conceptual approaches to electronic government, analyzing their conceptual amplitude and distinguishing characteristics. The article presents a comprehensive definition of electronic government based on current definitions and a well-established theoretical framework in public administration. The article ends with a brief discussion of some future trends in electronic government.