In the Evaluation section:
Evaluation
Drivers of eTransparency Projects
"What/who really drives my e-transparency project forward?"
In theory, e-transparency projects are driven forward by the public servants involved in order to achieve objectives of transparency, accountability, reduction in corruption, etc.
In reality, though, most e-transparency projects are driven forward by political agendas that often come from outside government.
In order to understand what and who is really driving your e-transparency project forward, you can use the following checklist to identify likely candidates. By understanding the real driving forces, you can see which groups need to be satisfied with which outcomes if your project is to be called a success. You can also understand better who needs to be involved, and about what issues.
Checklist of eTransparency Project Driving Forces
Driving forces behind e-transparency projects:
- Donors : above all groups it is donor agencies (including international financing institutions that have been driving forward (and funding e-transparency projects in developing/transitional economies. The strength of donors as drivers comes from financial leverage: crucial funding will only be given by donors if governments agree to proceed with e-transparency projects. Donors want e-transparency projects for reasons that range from presence of good governance at the heart of their development agenda, to a desire to see the money they provide managed more openly and effectively, to a desire to be seen to spend money on projects with a modern, techno-centric image.
- International organisations : other international organisations may operate in a similar manner to donors, using potential membership of that organisation (plus funding as the 'carrot' that then provides project leverage.
- Voters : in democratic regimes, the danger of a poor image with the electorate - hence, the danger of losing an upcoming election - can be an important driving force among politicians. This drives them to use e-transparency projects to address public services seen by the electorate as ineffective or corrupt.
- Taxpayers : where government has an important revenue base that is disaffected and withholding payments, this can act as a driving force similar to that of votes at election time. Government may be driven to e-transparency projects to try to demonstrate its effectiveness and value, in an attempt to boost its image with, and payment from, taxpayers.
- External clients : clients other than citizen voters/taxpayers may also drive e-transparency; for example, by threatening to lobby for a removal of powers if a public agency's work does not become more open and effective.
- Techies : IT staff inside government may promote e-transparency projects in an attempt to safeguard their jobs or justify existing ICT investments. IT vendors outside government may promote such projects in order to increase sales.
- Public officials : the public servants within an agency seem rarely to be the originating drivers for e-transparency projects within that agency; they are more often a channel for one of the external driving forces such as donors or voters. However, senior officials do sometimes impel an e-transparency project where they see one of the informal, personal benefits that such projects can offer. For example, they may want the kudos and self-promotion that ICT projects offer, or the control over staff, or the resources.