E-Government for All
In this six-month project we identified 12 initiatives-- 6 in the US and 6 in the UK-- that have successfully encouraged previous non-users to use the internet and take a step towards using e-government services.
Across both countries we found common effective strategies:
- Engaging people by starting with their interests and concerns
- Creating a comfortable learning environment and informal training opportunities
- Offering free computer and internet access
- Providing accessibility-- physical access, assistive devices, and appropriate training materials
- Giving or directing the way to long-term support
- Involving project users by constant consultation
- Raising awareness of the usefulness of online government services, and making these services easier to use
- Partnering with other organizations to share resources and expertise
- Building in strategies for project sustainability
View a web conference discussing preliminary findings and materials (PC required).
In both the United States and the United Kingdom, some hard-to-reach groups are excluded from online government services and transactions (e-government) through lack of access. This publication identifies technical and social barriers currently limiting access to e-government as well as suggested solutions. By presenting six case studies, Boeltzig and Pilling provide ten recommendations to increase access to and use of the Internet among the hard-to-reach. Our report (pdf file),published by the IBM Center for the Business of Government, can be accessed here.
Project Director: Heike Boeltzig
