E-government Status in Iran (TAKFA Plan Case Study)

Transcription

1 World Applied Sciences Journal 4 (Supple 2): 12-20, 2008 ISSN IDOSI Publications, 2008 E-government Status in Iran (TAKFA Plan Case Study) 1 2 M. Atashak and P. Mahzadeh 1 Department OF Educational Management, Member of Young Researchers Club, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Educational administration, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research branch, Tehran, Iran Abstract: This study is the result of a research program and aims at examining e-government status in Iran. Therefore, firstly we will discuss about formation history, missions, key strategies, strategic goals, key fields and main parts of Iran TAKFA plan based on laboratorial studies and evaluating documents and proofs related to Iran Development and Use of Information and Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA). Then we will describe the status of e-government in ministries and higher organizations in Iran based on services and the main components of e-government such as G2G, G2C, G2B and G2E. Obtained results indicate that Government-Government, Government-Commerce sector and Government-Employees components are currently absent in the portals of ministries and higher organizations in Iran. Key words: E- government TAKFA plan Iran INTRODUCTION better and more suitable services. They must meet society needs; otherwise they will change soon [1]. Information and communication technologies have But in developing countries including Iran, it has gained significant importance in modern world and paid less attention to citizens and satisfying them such various countries. These technologies are very powerful that for many authorities of these countries there isn t any tools that can increase the participation of all people need to change governmental structures for delivering of the society in social changes through establishing more suitable services to people. However, the authorities e-government. Employing e-government make it of many such countries believe that information increasingly possible for all people to access public technology has benefits for them, since reduces costs and information and prosper in economical and social fields administrational corruptions and provide them with better [1]. decision making tools. If you look at developing countries Due to various economical, social and political websites created by the help of World Bank and has been limitations and pressures, most countries of the world has named as development gates, you will recognize already began the implementation of e-government increasing interest of their authorities for changing the architecture in sectors where it seems more necessary and governmental affairs administrational system through they focus their investments in these areas. That is why implementation of e-government [2]. various countries are in different phases of e-government Numerous definitions have been suggested for implementation. e-government, since this concept is approached from It is obviously true that there is a significant different angles. However, the most inclusive definition difference between developed countries and developing which covers all these definitions and considers all countries in this regard. In developed countries, the idea aspects of this concept is as follows: Using technology of delivering better services to the society and people especially web based applications by the government for originates from private sectors and flows into improving access to information and delivering governmental areas. In these countries, governments face governmental services to citizens, business partners, considerable demand and pressure from citizens to deliver employees, other brokers and components of the Corresponding Author: Mr. M. Atashak, Department OF Educational Management, Member of Young Researchers Club, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), Tehran, Iran 12

2 government. E-government has potential to help and increasing decision making quality in various levels, establishing better relationships between government and delivering in-person services and reduction of costs, public through creating more smooth, easy and efficient increasing efficiency and effectiveness in various sectors, interaction with citizens. In addition, governmental rapid and accurate establishment and extension of organizations use e-government for improving main information among executive organizations, etc [6]. business operations and delivering information and fast Also implementing e-government article was and easier access services to larger groups of clients [1-5]. approved in 2000 by High Council of Informatics and was referred to related governmental organizations for A Review of the History of E-government Formation in implementation [7]. According to this e-government Iran: The first coordinated and inclusive activities in establishment plan consists of nine field of activity. The government sector of the country for extending details of Iran electronic government strategic plan are information technology and implementing e-government presented in Table 1: government virtual private network was providing and legislating Iran Development and Use (VPN), automation of planning and budgeting system, of Information and Communication Technology Plan automation of income system (treasury), traffic and (TAKFA) by Management and Planning Organization driving and execution affairs, creating web portals for (Secretary of High Council of Informatics, 2000) in the governmental organizations and delivering databases of beginning month of the year 2000 (May) [6]. This plan government services delivered to people, providing the that was legislated with the aim of coordinating executive draft of laws and plans related to management entities in activities in Iran and belongs to development and use of digital space at national level, creating suitable information and communication technology field, was information infrastructures and information highways approved by Ministers Council in 25 July, 2000 and was required for the country, creating national governmental referred to related organizations including High Council of portals, master plan of information and communication Informatics for execution [7]. technology [6]. According to the strategic plan provided by Management and Planning Organization, seven areas of Iran Development and Use of Information and information technology strategic plan were considered as Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA): This plan the country future activities: E-government, extending aims at creating a structured process and has clear and information technology application in education and well stated executive goals, although it focuses on a training and developing digital skills of the country particular domain [8]. This plan has been created in the human resource, extending information technology main frameworks of legislating fundamentals for human application for improving social services, extending resource development, cultural and social, governmental information technology application in the field of culture, services, extending economical and commercial services, art and promoting Farsi script and language in creating national infrastructure, information network, law, cyberspace, extending information technology application security, industry and employment [9]. Theoretical in economy, commerce and business, extending framework of TAKFA plan is according to international information technology through establishing Small institutions working in the filed of information and Medium Enterprises (SMFs) in research parks [6]. Table 1 communication application and its main concept is using shows areas of activity and details of e-government information and communication technology in various strategies plan of Iran [6]. sectors of Iranian community. This concept is addressed Finally High Council of Country Administration with within the following themes: the suggestion of Management and Planning Organization approved the E-government Establishment Necessity of legislating TAKFA plan: From 1980s, Plan in 2 July, This plan which consists of developed countries and even some of developing automating public and private activities of governmental countries started implementing their national policy organizations was aimed at accessing third law of regarding information and communication development plan and delivering exact and real time technology application for development. information in various economical, social and cultural Introduction of personal computers as well as sectors. The goals pursued by this plan were automation increasing demand for new softwares and hardwares of activities, expediting jobs, improvement of delivering rised the pace of this process. On the other hand, services to people with maximum discipline and accuracy digital communication and data transmission became 13

3 Table 1: Areas of activity and details of e-government strategies plan of Iran [6] No. Main activities Secondary Activities Code Responsible organization Coworker organization 1 Government Virtual Network Management Private Network Regulations (VPN) Security Content Presidency All organizations (Generating real time information and delivering them to decision making system and macro management of the country) 2 Automation of planning Budgeting Management and Planning All organizations and budgeting system Organization (Deputy of Support) Agreements exchange All organizations All organizations Credit Assignation Cost report Performance check Automation of income Treasury system accounting Ministry of Economic Affairs Management and Planning and Finance system (treasury) Organization/Banks/Ministry of Commerce 4 Traffic and driving and Automating traffic and driving Police Municipalities/Provincial execution affairs affairs for delivering real time governments services to people 5 Creating websites of Creating electronic forms Management and Planning governmental organizations (e-forms) Organization and all and delivering databases of executive organizations governmental services of the country delivered to people Information service systems and databases for people having relationship with the organization (including job market information service system, agricultural information service, etc.) Helping automation of the country activities Electronic tendering Ministry of Economic Affairs Ministry of Culture & Islamic system for all and Finance Guidance/Management and governmental auctions Planning Organization/Secretary of High Council of Informatics/all executive organizations of the country 6 Providing the draft of Cyber crime law Secretary of High Council Ministry of Justice related laws and plans related of Informatics organizations/culture & to management entities Islamic Guidance/Science, of cyberspace at Research and Technology/ national level commerce/economicaffairs and Finance/P.T.T/Police 14

4 Table 1: Continued No. Main activities Secondary Activities Code Responsible organization Coworker organization Intellectual property law in cyberspace National identification validation system (CA&PKI) and e-signature and its macro management entity Privacy policy in cyberspace Legislating required standards related to information network Creating macro management entity, issuing domain names under IT classification Creating justice Banks/executive chamber for cyber organizations/computer conflicts companies 7 Creating suitable Legislating based on Ministry of Post and Telegraph Management and Planning information Iran national information and Telephone/communication Organization/Ministry of infrastructures and infrastructure (IR-NII) by companies of Iran and its Road & Transportation/ information ministry of Post and provinces Ministry of Interior/ highways Telegraph and Telephone Ministry of Information/ required for and communication Free zones the country companies in the country and its provinces with related credits 8 (National Government Creating national Management and Planning All government organizations Portal) governmental portals Organization (Deputy of Integrating web portals of Human Resources) governmental organizations with the process of delivering services to people through this network 9 Master plan of ICT Creating national/sectorial/ Secretary of High All executive organizations and provincial master ICT plan Council of Informatics sectors of the country/ Management and Planning Organization common. The appearance of Internet and its rapid increase in distant learning education and development was considered a turning point in this appearance of virtual communities and e-government area that resulted to significant changes in world are some examples of these changes [8]. economics, policy and culture. Increase in data Phases of legislating TAKFA plan: clear and transmission rate, increase in human resource specified phases and an inclusive plan were followed productivity, promoting distant working methods, for legislating and implementing TAKFA plan. distant medicine, e-commerce and electronic banking, Firstly, general policies related to computer 15

5 information networks were created during six steps government information as the absolute national [8]. After legal validations performed by highest rights of people help to create value added levels of the country, these general policies of employment opportunities, rapid and cheaper access computer information network were declared to of public to communication and information, government in the form of regulations like creating extending digital literacy and promoting national and improving national computer information system, culture and language in digital environment, creating extending national information network quantitatively modern infrastructures for exporting services and and qualitatively, active and effective presence in products, more rapid extending, creating and growing international networks and supporting governmental small medium enterprises, extending and improving and private sectors, creating and improving access to Islamic culture and Farsi script in digital environment international treaties and regulations and creating [11]. information unions with other countries specially Key areas and main parts of TAKFA plan: The key Islamic countries [7, 10]. areas of Iran Development and Use of Information TAKFA plan perspective: The perspective of Iran and Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA) are Development and Use of Information and presented in Table 2 and this table shows the Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA) is as framework of Development and Use of Information th follows: Powerful Iran in 21 century: Knowledge and Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA) [7]. oriented economy through using information and communication technology [11]. Also, determining and recognizing secondary pivot TAKFA plan mission: Employing information and of TAKFA plan which are included in aforementioned communication technology for converting national main frameworks is the authorized right of High Council of opportunities and resources to national richness, Informatics and can be changed or interpreted with the ability and pride with the goal of stable national suggestion of the organization or the future corrective development [7]. articles of High Council of Informatics. The Secretary of Key strategies in providing TAKFA plan programs: High Council of Informatics will be responsible to pursue The strategies pursued in Iran Development and Use and study all affairs related to TAKFA plan [7]. Also, the of Information and Communication Technology Plan most important parts of Iran Development and Use of (TAKFA) are as follows: systematic extending of Information and Communication Technology Plan information and communication technology in stable (TAKFA) are as follows: national development, human resource development as a strategic priority of information and The plan of providing the master system of the communication technology development, improving country information and communication technology sharing environment and space, infrastructural (national information and communication technology measures (access network, regulations, resources plan, institutionalization of executive management and facilities), private sector is a key and strategic plan, the plan of creating engineering system of pivot of information and communication technology information and communication technology development movement [7]. companies) Strategic goals of TAKFA plan: The main goal of The plan of recreating promotion of national and TAKFA plan was specified as more preparation of Islamic culture in cyberspace the country for its fully involvement in information The plan of recreating the governmental services age to meet cultural and economical development as within information and communication technology well as developing fields and opportunities to context motivate private sector as a key and strategic pivot of The plan of recreating promotion of social services in information and communication technology. cyberspace However, it aims to reach the following goals: The plan of recreating commerce within the Improving the efficiency of the services including information and communication technology context. reduction of costs and time specially those related to The plan of recreating economics within the governmental sector, encouraging and extending information and communication technology context. electronically participation of people in society The plan of national information infrastructure and control, promoting information sharing specially security 16

6 Table 2: The framework of Development and Use of Information and Communication Technology Plan (TAKFA) [7] No. Key areas Main parts 1 National master plan The country master plan of information and communication technology 2 Creating infrastructure for human, cultural and social resources Developing human resources and e-learning 3 Culture in cyberspace 4 E-government 5 Governmental services E-services 6 Developing social and E-commerce 7 commercial services E-economics 8 Developing national infrastructures The network of Iran national information of information network and law infrastructure (IR-NII) and security 9 and security Infrastructure of laws 10 Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 11 Industry and employment Industry sector Table 3: Five levels for evaluation of e-government services [14] Level Meaning 0 Not delivering information and services 1 Delivering poor information and not delivering services 2 Delivering acceptable information, but not delivering services 3 Delivering acceptable information and poor services 4 Delivering acceptable information and suitable services The plan of recreating and providing the draft of laws Evaluating E-government Status in Iran: Based on in digital/computer/internet environment studies conducted about e-government status in various The plan of recreating and increasing employment in countries and their rank, united nations and American the field of information and communication Society for Public Administration standards (including the technology with emphasis on the growth of small condition of websites or web presence measure (WPM), medium enterprises information and communication technology infrastructure The master plan of development of information and Measures (ICTIM), human resource abilities), Iran had the communication industry [7]. index of 1.31 and rank of 77 that indicates low ability of implementing e-government in Iran [13]. Figure 1 shows the way key fields and main parts of The results obtained from a two phase research were TAKFA plan interact and communicate with each other used for determining e-government status in ministries [7]. and higher organizations of Iran. A sample of 20 ministries and 5 higher organizations that are under the direct Executive Results of TAKFA Plan: The main results are control of Islamic republic of Iran president were as follows: studied. The first phase of this research includes identifying Organizing the strategic specialist committee of the website addresses of ministries and higher information technology in ministries and councils. independent organizations with responsibility of The second phase of this research was devoted to ministers. evaluation of current governmental websites based Supporting the execution of more than 258 main on e-government services and main components like researches; planned and applied projects by various G2G, G2C, G2B and G2E. Therefore, five levels were economic, social and cultural entities to create defined for each of e-government services and main additional space and promote the using of components like G2G, G2C, G2B and G2E. These cyberspace levels begin from Level 0 meaning not delivering Evaluating, approving and assigning credit for information and services and end to level 4 meaning executive plans in technical and scientific committees delivering acceptable information and suitable Promoting private sector as the pivot of national services (Table 3). TAKFA plan execution Attracting the involvement of civil institutions RESULTS AND DISCUSSION for developing information technology [12]. Interview with governmental authorities and Figure 2 shows Schematic view of TAKFA plan professionals indicated that the services delivered by legislating process [7]. G2C and G2E components were not accessible to 17

7 Network infrastructure, law and security Industry and employment TAK Economical and commercial services Development of human, cultural and social resources Governmental services Fig. 1: How key fields and main parts of TAKFA plan interact and communicate with each other [7] International studies Third plan of development Internal survey Supreme Leadership guidance Priorities of presidency second step Strategies of High Council of Cultural Revolution Strategies of High Council of Informatics Internal study and outside survey: Weaknesses Strengths Threats Opportunities ICT perspective in Iran ICT mission in Iran Keys Strategic Strategic goals of ICT national Executive structure of High Council of Informatics and its secretary TAKFA plan Recognition, documentation and costing machine Fig. 2: Schematic view of TAKFA plan legislating process [7] 18

8 Table 4: The status of each of the main components of e-government in governmental organizations [14] No. Organization (ministry and organization) G2C G2B G2G G2E 1 Presidency Ministry of Education Ministry of Information Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Commerce Ministry of Health, Education and Medical Treatment Ministry of Post and Telegraph and Telephone Ministry of Cooperatives Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture Ministry of Justice Ministry of Defense & Armed Force Ministry of Road & Transportation Ministry of Industries and Mines Ministry of Science, Research and Technology Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Ministry of Interior Ministry of Culture & Islamic Guidance Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Building Ministry of Petroleum Ministry of Energy Atomic Energy Organization Physical Training Organization Environmental Protection Organization Management and Planning Organization public due to their nature. So, both components their nature. So, both of these components of e- don t exist in ministries and higher organizations of government don t exist in ministries and higher Iran and these organizations belong to level 0 in organizations of Iran and these organizations enjoy level delivering G2B and G2E services. 0 in delivering G2B and G2E services. Expect for services Expect for services delivered by G2G component that delivered by G2G component that enjoys level 1 in belongs to level 1 in presidency website and portal, presidency website and portal, no other component such no other component such as G2G, G2C and G2E is as G2G, G2C and G2E is present in the websites of present in the websites of ministries and higher ministries and higher organizations of Iran. organizations of Iran. Regarding delivering governmental services to Regarding delivering governmental services to citizens, 40 percent of studied ministries and citizens, 40 percent of studied ministries and higher organizations of Iran had no website address, governmental organizations had no website address, 32 percent of them had websites containing limited 32 percent of them had websites containing limited information and only 28 percent of them enjoyed information and only 28 percent of them enjoyed acceptable information in their websites. According to acceptable content and information in their websites. the results obtained from this research, electronic services According to the results of this research, electronic and e-forms aren t provided in the websites of ministries services and e-forms aren t provided in the websites and higher organizations of Iran. Levels 3 and 4 of of ministries and higher organizations of Iran. delivering information and services were not found in any Levels 3 and 4 of delivering information and services of the existed websites. This indicates that currently no were not found in any of the existed websites. This governmental service is delivered through the indicates that currently no governmental services are governmental websites. delivered through the websites of ministries and higher The following factors affect significantly the organizations of Iran. The status of each of 4 main successful implementation of e-government in Iran: components of e-government in ministries and higher Technology: considerable technological level has organizations of Iran is presented in Table 4. been used in this area. These technologies must be of high reliability and their related operational issues CONCLUSION such as development capability must be taken into account. As it was stated, interview with governmental Cultural: Successful utilization of e-government authorities and specialists indicated that G2C and G2E requires paying attention to cultural background of components are not usually accessible for public due to the community and its social context. 19

9 Training and human resource: In order to implement 3. Aldrich, D., J.C. Bertota and R.C. McClurea, a complex and extensive system with high quality, E-Government: Initiatives, Developments and Issues. existed human resources must be taken into Government Information Quarterly, 19(4): consideration. If the education and research 4. Millard, J., E-Government Strategies: Best practitioners of the country are not capable to Practice Reports from the European Front Line. improve the existed systems and train required Danish Technological Institute, Denmark. productive and skillful people, employees, leaders 5. Edmiston, K.D., State and local E-Government: and managers of executive organizations will not well Prospects and challenges. The American Review of prepared for efficient execution of e-government. Public Administration, 33(1): This problem makes it less likely to implement e- 6. Moghaddasi, A. and K. Feyzi, E-government: government. recreation in information age: Termeh publication. Organizational: Implementing and maintaining such 7. Secretary of High Council of Informatics, system requires significant and continuous co- General information regarding Iran Development and ordinations of various sectors and organizations of Use of Information and communication Technology the society. plan (TAKFA), High Council of Informatics, first Sub-contraction: Numerous projects must be edition, Spring.. executed in order to accomplish e-government plan. 8. Zareian, D., The role of public relations in These projects often require having somewhat implementation and accomplishment of TAKFA plan different experiences. Managing these projects is (Development and Use of Information and itself a part of e-government technology. Communication Technology), General Administration Programming: Designing and implementing of Culture & Islamic Guidance, second conference on electronically committee of government depends on Iran public relations, winter. performing many different activities. In many cases, 9. Name-e-Anjoman, A look at TAKFA plan, these activities are related to other activities and a community of Iranian informatics companies monthly, coordinated collaboration of many companies and Vol. 5, summer and autumn. consultants is needed for performing them. 10. Khatami, S.M., Second step; Challenges and Financial resources: Supplying and assigning Priorities, Election thesis for second course of financial resources for performing this plan adds to presidency, Spring. the complexities of e-government implementation. 11. Payam-e-Ertebatat, Introduction to TAKFA Financial resources must be taken into consideration plan, Development and Use of Information and for implementing such plan; otherwise it is bounded Communication Technology Plan: Ministry of Post to failure. and Telegraph and Telephone public relations, Time factor: E-government has been formed for autumn. meeting a number of needs. If these needs are not 12. Center of Communications Researches, Iran and satisfied in a reasonable time, it may be omitted from information community; status, advances and the country priorities as the time passes. In such perspective, Allameh Tabatabaee University and case, the country affairs may proceed slowly and Ministry of Information and Communication placed in an uneven path. Technology. 13. Ronaghan, S.A., Benchmarking E-government: REFERENCES A Global Perspective, Assessing the Progress of the UN Member States, United Nations Division 1. Layne, K. and J.W. Lee, Developing fully for public economics and public administrationfunctional e-government: a four stage model", American society for public administration, Government Inform. Quarterly, 18 (2): New York. 2. Whitson, T.L. and L. Davis, Best Practices in 14. Atashak, M. and P. Mahzadeh, e-government Electronic Government: Comprehensive Electronic in Iran: 46, Collection of Abstracts of the Information Dissemination for Science and st 1 International Conference on E-City, Tehran, Iran. Technology. Government Information Quarterly, 18 (2):