In the Overview section:
Categories of eTransparency Project
"What type of e-transparency project am I dealing with?"
In some situations, it can help to classify the type of e-transparency project you are involved with; for example, to understand the particular role and nature of transparency within the project, or to understand how it is similar from/different to other e-transparency projects. The tables below provide a simple four-way classification scheme. Follow this link for examples of real-world e-transparency projects categorised using this scheme.
eTransparency projects can be categorised in various different ways, by:
Centrality of Transparency
How central is transparency to the e-transparency project?
Category |
Description |
|---|---|
Central |
The main aim of this project is to improve transparency |
Mixed |
One of the main aims of this project is to improve transparency |
Secondary |
Improvements in transparency are only a secondary aim - or even incidental outcome - of this project |
Type of Transparency
What kind of transparency - even what degree of transparency - does the e-transparency project deal with?
Category |
Description |
|---|---|
Publication |
The ICT system just provides some basic information about a particular area of government; citizens/users can get a basic insight into operations and personnel |
Transaction |
The ICT system automates some public sector processes; this 'disintermediation' partly removes those processes from human control |
Reporting |
The ICT system provides specific details of public sector decisions and actions; these may be reported in the form of performance indicators |
Openness |
The ICT system not only provides details of current performance, but enables users to compare that performance against pre-set standards (may also be called benchmarks or targets) |
Accountability |
As well as providing performance information, the ICT system supports some process of control (e.g. reward or punishment) over public servants |
Audience for Transparency
Who is seen as the main user group for the e-transparency system?
Category |
Description |
|---|---|
External |
The ICT system is mainly intended for use by a group outside government |
Internal |
The ICT system is mainly intended for use by a group within government |
Mixed |
The ICT system is intended for use by groups both inside and outside government |
Content of Transparency
What type of data does the e-transparency system mainly handle?
Category |
Description |
|---|---|
Financial |
The ICT system handles data about public sector money (e.g. budgets, accounts) |
Procurement |
The ICT system handles data about purchase of goods and services by government (e.g. tenders, bids, contracts) |
Workflow |
The ICT system handles data about the flow of public sector work activities and resources |
Registration |
The ICT system handles data about recording of particular details with the public sector |
Sector-specific |
The ICT system handles data about a process that is peculiar to one particular part of the public sector |
Mixed |
The ICT system handles data of various different types |