Implementing E-Government Strategy in Scotland: Current Situation and Emerging Issues

Using Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to transform public services is a central element of the current UK Government’s strategy for modernising government. This paper explores the development of e-government by an in-depth study of the current position in the public sector in Scotland. The research involved an evaluation of the web sites of a wide range of public sector organisations, a survey of chief executives and interviews with five key stakeholders. The results of this research suggest that public sector organisations in Scotland recognise the importance of e-government but are currently at a very early stage in developing electronic services. There is a gap between the rhetoric about the potential of e-government and the reality on the ground. In particular, the public sector organisations involved in this research appear to be more sceptical about the ability of ICTs to break down barriers within and between organisations than those who advocate e-government as a solution to this problem. Issues on balancing conflicting objectives between implementing E-government strategy and other strategic initiatives will also be highlighted. The paper concludes by suggesting a number of key issues that will need to be addressed if e-government is to fulfil its potential and transform the way public sector organisations manage their activities and interact with customers and citizens.