Singapore, Norway and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rank first, second and third, respectively, among 10 countries in their use of ‘digital government’, a study by technology consulting firm Accenture suggests.
The study surveyed 5,000 people across Brazil, Germany, India, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Then the countries were scored on how they fare when it comes to their use of e-government, from offering their citizens online access to public services, to using digital channels and social media to communicate with citizens.
This falls in line with the finding that 81pc of survey respondents said they would like their government to provide more services through digital channels, and 64pc would like to use social media to interact with government.
In addition, the study’s findings also reveal most of the countries that scored best in the study have made a sustained investment in digital government, and seek and listen to citizen feedback.
Singapore, for instance, will be one of the first countries to ensure every citizen has an electronic health record.
In Norway, 78pc of citizens believe government should consult with them in the design and delivery of public services, which suggests an engaged population.
“New digital technologies emphasising speed and mobility are not only changing the way we live, work and interact with each other, but they are providing unprecedented opportunities for government to radically transform complex bureaucracies and become more agile, citizen-centric, efficient and innovative,” said Bernard Le Masson, who leads Accenture’s Health & Public Service global management consulting business.
“As governments become more digital and work toward ensuring that most citizens have online access, digital skills, and a voice in the design of public services, they are experiencing higher levels of engagement, accountability and public trust.”
E-government image via Shutterstock
