E-government : which interpretive key?

These notes seek to demonstrate that by approaching e-government as an organizational problem, and not as a technocratic and neutral (by which we mean unbiased) issue, we can identify the problems, contradictions and pitfalls that otherwise remain invisible. It is a question of substance not of terminology (we will not talk about the difference between e-governance and e-government; in our view, e-government is the use of ICT technologies in all areas of the public administration, from front office to back office). The perspective that continues to prevail in the public discourse is a generator of limitations. Only by adopting a less algorithmic method can we highlight the confusion and contradictions otherwise labelled as inefficiencies, misalignments, resistance, cultural inadequacy. Our choice of approach can produce useful ideas to move forward the current egovernment debate and formulate ways to intervene