‘ eGovernment ’ An “information ecology” lens

1. e-Government in the Pacific Islands: an ‘information ecology’ approachRowena CullenGraham HassallPACINET 2013Fa’onelua Convention CentreNuku'alofa, Tonga9-13 September 2013

2. ‘eGovernment’ An “information ecology” lens Are PICs are getting the eGovernment they want and need, or the eGovernment they are offered by development partners and others? (“who is driving eGovernment in the PICs?”) challenges facing PICs in their adoption of eGovernmentstrategies & factors impacting on eGovernmentadoption some interim findings

3. The “promise” of e-Government Transformational power of e-government, internal and external facilitates better business process, efficiency, citizen-focused service capacity to change relationships, governance, promote transparency, democratic process UN advocates for all states, inclLDCs, stages of: information infrastructure, (connecting govt, citizens and business); integration, (shared information and services); transformation

4. The reality Regional/global strategies to bring the benefits of e- government to PICs have had limited success Numerous studies, forums, reports, have not documented solutions – hard to learn lessons when evaluations are not made public - eg evaluation of Samoan ICT policy 2004-2009) Knowledge to date limited, descriptive, policies and policy processes not always transparent, particularly in cases of policy failure / implementation challenges Two key factors: lack of ICT infrastructure, policy, capacity, and inappropriate contextual models: Development of e-government needs to take into account unique local culture, forms of governance, knowledge structures (can even include physical conditions: egHealth data collection in Vanuatu – post quake)

5. Current state of e-government in the Pacific Islands ICT POLICY 2010-2012 countries having National ICT policies increased from 5 to 12 with ITU support Pacific Regional Digital Strategy (PIFS), and PIIPP focus on ICT as means to meeting Millennium Development Goals: Vibrant market driven ICT sector Improved access to ICT, cheaper ICT Improved access to global ICT backbone Improved regulatory environment Capacity building (ICT skills) All critical for economic dev & e-government E-Government use of ICT in government is mostly limited to: payroll, basic records and statistics, Internet access and email for staff, and basic web presence for agencies

6. The policy cycle Agenda Setting Policy evaluation Policy formulation Policy implementation Decision making Source: Howlett& Ramesh, 2003, p. 13

10. The policy (sub)system Policy universe or Policy system Private/ Market (economic) Global policy networks Policy subsystem(s) - actors, networks, institutions International policy system National policy system Donor community State (political) International regimes/policies Society (social & physical) Source: Howlett& Ramesh, 2003, p.54

11. E-government and an information ecology approach “information ecology” (Davenport 1997) versus ‘technocentric’ model An IE approach is required to develop a contextually appropriate and therefore sustainable model Dialogue between top-down and bottom up is needed Forms of traditional governance still dominant in most PICs : Community ownership of land, knowledge of land usage, resources for food and healing constitute wealth Knowledge and its benefits a commodity for exchange for benefit of own kinship group, not sharing abroad, or for individual gain

12. System (order ‘imposed’ through articulated rules) Strategic action (monologic) Communicative action (dialogic) Lifeworld (mutually understood culture & language) Communicative rationality (following Habermas)

13. Emerging themes Need to adjust to nature of government/governance in the Pacific, specific to each context: Limited role of government in developing economies – what are key functions? E.g. Finance, border control, disaster management (is there need to replicate everything done in larger economies?) Important role of NGOs, other aid agencies, and civil society – is this reflected in ICT use? Role of elites eGov needs shared vision if national goals are to be achieved. eGovneeds leaders / champions – esp. political leaders, public sector leaders ICT infrastructure: Challenges of data sharing are underestimated The role of the regulator is crucial but Pacific regulators struggle for resources and capacity just as other actors do Major impact of mobile technology – how is policy adapting? What projects are implemented? With what results? Governments should plan for this immediately – eg, make all portals mobile friendly Information flows and controls – central government, local govt, communities - are governments using ICTs to obtain data or to additionally to share data? Why should people cooperate and be enthused?