Maturity of e-government in Brazilian municipalities: analysis of the dissemination of information and knowledge about the Covid-19 pandemic to Society

Abstract

Electronic government (e-gov) is a reality already experienced by citizens and organizations of different countries around the world. Governments of different levels can provide information and knowledge available through electronic channels in order to provide a better relationship between their institutions and society. This research aims to identify and classify the maturity of electronic portals of municipal governments in the five largest cities in Brazil regarding the dissemination of information and knowledge about the Covid-19 pandemic to society, classifying them according to the stages of maturity of electronic government proposed by Lechakoski and Tsunoda (2015). To acchieve this goal, a descriptive research of multiple cases was carried out, with the application of a documentary research protocol on the websites of the following Brazilian municipal governments: São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA), Belo Horizonte (MG) and Fortaleza (CE). The results showed that the municipalities of São Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ) showed greater compliance with the criteria analyzed in the model considered, being classified in the 'integrated' stage, the most developed level. The municipalities of Salvador, Belo Horizonte, and Fortaleza were classified in the transactional stage.