16. Cost structures

While planning and budgeting in a changing climate is difficult, governments should seek to invest in sustainable programs that can produce savings.

・ Avoid advertising-based or fee-based services. They have generally not been sustainable.

・ Articulate functionalities clearly and try not to add details that will push budgets into deficit.

・ Develop projects that are achievable with resources available.

・ Consider the government’s current use of technology and study past successes and failures.

・ Designate an officer or organizing body that will oversee cost.

17. Benchmarking

Governments must regularly evaluate the progress and effectiveness of their E-government investments to determine whether stated goals and objectives are being met on schedule

・ Create measurable goals during early planning stages.

・ Designate an office to oversee E-government implementation.

・ Make sure the office is sufficiently funded and is recognized by all relevant agencies and departments.

・ Conduct regular audits to ensure progress is being made to achieve stated goals.

・ Review benchmarks regularly to ensure that accurate measures are appropriate for rapidly changing technology.

・ Create a data collection system to support program operations and “before and after” surveys of knowledge, skills, and applications among participating organizations to assess program impact.

・ A common IT infrastructure and architecture standard is key to ensuring that ongoing development takes place in a coherent and integrated way.

・ Advanced planning of common IT infrastructure standards result in shortened development time and system compatibility.

・ Quantitative measures can be as beneficial as qualitative ones.