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Throughout the public sector, the use of the internet to deliver information and services has advanced from strategic plan to established practice in a remarkably short period of time. Visionary decision-makers, creative policy framers and pragmatic public servants are harnessing the power of the internet, seizing it as new and indispensable vehicle for disseminating information, delivering services, transacting business and ultimately interacting with citizens. Substantial resources, research and time are being devoted to launching and perfecting the delivery of services online that are intended not only to facilitate government operations but to involve citizens more deeply in the governing process. E-governance involves new channels for accessing government, new styles of leadership, new methods of transacting business, and new systems for organizing and delivering information and services. It is potential for enhancing the governing process is immeasurable. The principles of e-governance are relatively straight forward:
The delivery of government services and information online has become a major strategic tool in national, regional and local public sector reform programs. Yet the research has been limited and the most relevant issues are just beginning to crystallize. Though a number of academic institutions, think tanks and private sector firms have placed e-government prominently on their agendas, currently there are no qualified institutes exclusively devoted to gathering research, analyzing primary data and appreciating the implications of e-governance on a full time, continuing basis. The timing for the establishment of such an institute is right, and the benefits considerable.
Information age governing presents an entirely new set of challenges for decision-makers, public sector professionals and citizens. Finding solutions to these challenges is the primary role of the E-Governance Institute. As part of Rutgers University's National Center for Public Productivity, the Institute will focus its activities on emerging e-governance issues impacting on all levels of government, the non-profit sector, the private sector and the civil society. These activities will include:
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