Abstract
This paper aims to empirically explore whether changes in technological infrastructures and working processes have been perceived by local public employees, and if training programs have been used as a way to introduce these changes in a strategic manner. The analysis of the differences in the situation between 2005 and 2014 reveals an increased investment in technology and a decreased investment in training, and that public employees have not perceived a significant improvement in the way they work and in their efficiency levels. These findings emphasize the importance of competence-based management for the effective provision of public services. Purpose – This paper has as its aim to empirically explore whether changes in technological infrastructures and working processes have been perceived by local public employees, and if training programs have been used as a way to introduce these changes in a strategic manner. Design/Methodology/Approach – A longitudinal analysis was carried for this purpose asking about the presence of training actions addressed to the employees of Spanish public administrations and about the perception that ICT area managers have in regards to the effects caused by the introduction of e-government strategies. Findings – The results obtained show that town councils have increased their investment in technical aspects of e-government, but not in the development of competences to use the technology. In addition, the fact that public employees have not perceived a significant improvement in the way they work and in their efficiency levels leads to the conclusion that a decreased investment in competency training is not conducive to a greater sense of efficiency in the provision of public services. Research limitations/implications – The limitations of this paper lie on the lack of consideration of certain parameters which might influence strategic e-government implementation; plus incurring in single-bias response and considering only one case (Spain) in the research. The statistical analysis is merely descriptive, although it provides the researchers with clear results. Practical implications – Public managers and policy makers should reflect on the long-term effects of their e-government decisions or ‒ alternatively ‒ the absence of such effects. Shortterm ‘patches’ are only useful to meet a specific need during a certain period, whereas change management requires a more far-reaching, long-term look which can overcome the budgetary limits and the traditional bureaucratic barriers. Originality/Value – This paper presents the results of a longitudinal analysis carried out over nine years that explores first-hand opinions of e-government professionals, linking competency-base management and e-government success.
Highlights
The transition to an interactive management with the customer through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has been long tackled by the private sector, aware of the need to approach its customers through both widespread and useful toolsM for the delivery of a better service and a stronger orientation towards those customers.this transition is stalled in public sector organizations (PSOs), because of their traditional mechanical structures
Uaim: irstly, endowing those public employees with the knowledge and skills needed for the utilization of the ICT tools inherent to e-government; and secondly, instilling the behaviors and attitudes which characterize the acceptance and internalization of a greater orientation to the ‘customer’ by means of more lexible working methods, with a higher degree of autonomy and under the parameters of a more organic type of organizational structure, such as the orientation towards customers and the satisfaction of their needs through the technology focused on citizens, and the orientation aimed at results and necessities, receptivity and connectivity, opening and proactivity within the framework of some new procedures, ways to establish relationships, etc. (Guijarro et al, 2015)
The aim of this paper is to study the variety of actions undertaken by the different Spanish town councils as far as training is concerned, both in the ICT knowledge and skills typically associated with e-government and in behaviors and attitudes which are in tune with the strategic rethinking entailed by this change, as well as the perception of a true change that the public employees of those town councils have had
Summary
M for the delivery of a better service and a stronger orientation towards those customers This transition is stalled in public sector organizations (PSOs), because of their traditional mechanical structures. A questionnaire was sent for this purpose, both online and by postal mail, to the IT managers of Spanish local administrations in 2005 and 2014 The choice of this analysis period will allow us to weigh up the differences perceived before the economic-inancial crisis and once we were immersed into it. The present work makes a two-fold contribution: on the one hand, examining the actions undertaken in the ield of training for the purpose E-Government of dealing with this change, both in terms of infrastructures and regarding the strategic Implementation, orientation required for the adoption of e-government; and on the other hand, to calibrate the evolution and perception of the results obtained with such initiatives over a time period which starts with the economic crisis and inishes at the present moment, while we are still immersed into it
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
