Information Polity

John A. Taylor

2002 Information Polity

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Arthur R. Edwards

2002 Information Polity

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A common approach towards the role of the moderator in Internet discussions is to see him as a filter. In this article I want to show that the moderator in government-initiated Internet discussions about public issues can be seen as a democratic intermediary, and that this role has the potential to enhance the quality of those discussions as forms of deliberative democracy. I develop a conceptual model of the management of Internet discussions. Five cases of Dutch Internet discussions about public issues are analyzed. The filter function of moderation appears to be of minor importance. Moderators do a lot more. They manage discussions. Particularly, they contribute to the interactivity and openness of discussions and to the accessibility of public administration and institutional politics. In most of the cases described, there had been independent, `third party' moderation. As governments gain more experience with the Internet, moderation may shift to governmental agencies. In this perspective, it is important to stress the transparency and to care for the negotiableness of moderation.

Constantina I. Costopoulou ; Miltiades E. Anagnostou

2002 Information Polity

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Recent developments in the area of information and communication technology can prove to be enablers of rural development by bringing advanced telematic services. However, it is the way in which network operators, service providers and rural users organize and use technology that contributes to rural development. By carefully and systematically selecting a service set, which is both meaningful to rural users and profitable to him/herself, a service provider will establish a successful enterprise and will exploit the investment on network equipment. Subsequently, the introduction of advanced telematic services in rural areas is an important problem. A scenario based approach for introducing advanced telematic services in rural areas in the European Union is presented with an emphasis to economic viability. It is split into a usage and technical scenario. The objective of this paper is to present and review important aspects of the aforementioned problem under the light of modern service provision methodologies. A case study of a rural area in Greece is described in order to illustrate the methodology. It seems that rural areas can benefit from recent advances in technology provided that cost effective network solutions and carefully selected services are offered. The penetration of modern technology in urban areas and the general trend towards cost-effective solutions are likely to further accelerate progress in rural areas.

A. Meijer

2002 Information Polity

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This paper explores the question which consequences the use of geographical information systems (GISs) may have for public accountability. Empirical data from a Delphi-survey were used for this exploration. Respondents were asked to reflect on the consequences of GISs for the availability of data for accountability. Based on their answers four hypotheses were formulated. The use of a GIS leads to an increased focus on up-to-date data at the expense of historical data. Important data for accountability will sometimes not be retained. The use of a GIS leads to an increased need to maintain about data how, when and by whom data have been generated. This need may not be sufficiently met. In a process of accountability, data from a GIS may then be difficult to interpret or cannot be trusted. A GIS increases the possibility to look at the data in different ways. In processes of accountability for a may ask governmental organizations to substantiate the choice fora certain perspective. The use of a GIS leads to better access to the data. Therefore, data from a GIS may play a more important role in a process of accountability. These hypotheses require further attention to gain a better understanding of long-term public accountability in an information age.

Agnieszka Pawlowska

2002 Information Polity

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The paper addresses the issue of information technology use in public administration of the country that only a decade ago started to build both its public administration and IT infrastructure. The process of creating institutions serving the people rather than politics was launched at first on the local level. Consequently, the local level is the most experienced one in implementing the principles of civil society and applying modern tools to public decision-making and management. The study focused on 15 local administrations in the capital cities of Polish regions. The study focused on hardware, software and orgware in these administrations. The author's objective was to present "a big picture" of the informatization process in local administration, with special attention paid to: a) the reasons of IT failures; b) the conditions of successful IT implementation; c) the convergence between the experience of IT applications in the EU countries' and US administrations and that of Polish administration. The research method was based on the technique of questionnaire interview and qualitative analysis. The questionnaire was addressed to information resources managers in local administration. Correlations between variables portraying the quality and quantity of IT and the current state of informatization process were elaborated. Six variables were treated as pivotal in the evaluation of IT management and use in local administration: 1) one computer per x employees; 2) percent of networked computers; 3) the number of MIS applications; 4) the degree of MIS integration; 5) the stage of GIS development; 6) the institutional arrangement of information resources' management. Three basic reasons behind the failures in IT implementation and information resources management were identified: 1) inability of local decision-makers and administrators to express the informational needs of the organisation; 2) lack of proper management of IT projects; 3) divergent group interests inside a given administration. Other causes of the observed facts were also explained. Convergence in conditions of successful IT implementation in different administrations was verified. The basic conditions of IT success observed in the cases under investigation were mentioned: 1) professional IT management carried by a separate information systems' unit; 2) creating a complex strategy of informatization and future IT management; 3) support of local decision-makers; 4) sufficient financial and human resources; 5) end-users involvement in creating and implementation of IT project. In conclusion, the author made an effort to find convergence in organisational and social outcomes of informatization process. The results of the URBIS project constituted the point of reference. The thesis that in the short run computing has relatively little effect on organisation structures and reinforces the existing organisational arrangements has been confirmed. Special attention has been paid to the conflict of interests over the control of IT inside public institutions. Last but not least, the author tried to answer the question if the ten years of Polish local administration's experience with IT use and management is at all comparable to the experience of other administrations during the same period.

Euripidis N. Loukis ; Niki Tsouma

2002 Information Polity

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Extensive research has been conducted on the main issues that organizations face concerning Information Systems (IS) management, in order to exploit the capabilities of the rapidly evolving Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to the highest possible extent. However most of this research has been directed towards the private sector. The present study attempts to contribute to the research of the critical issues of IS management in the public sector. Based on 32 interviews with IS Managers of Greek Public Sector organizations using a structured questionnaire, the main issues and challenges that the organizations of the Greek Public Sector face concerning the whole cycle of IS management are investigated. From this investigation it is concluded that the most important IS management issue currently faced is to hire 'New IS Human Resources', followed by the issues of 'Extending Use of Office Automation' and of 'Management and Use of Data Resources'. The results shed light on the profile of the modern IS management function, which has become highly complex and multidimensional, containing many both technical and non-technical management issues, which can be either internal or external to the IS Unit. The results also show the highly horizontal nature of the IS function: its success depends more on issues concerning its cooperation and relationship with the other functions of the organization, than on issues concerning its own functional expertise. From the study of the main expected IS management issues after 3 years, it is concluded that about one third of the main agenda currently faced by IS management is expected to change within three years, confirming the highly dynamic nature of the IS management function. The results of the present study were also compared with the results of previous studies of IS management issues conducted in Greece and in USA. From the comparison were determined both similarities and differences as to the main IS management issues faced. Therefore some of the main IS management issues faced by organizations are universal, while some others are specific to particular sectoral and national contexts.