University Chooses Missouri's E-Government Description As One Of The Term's Best Definitions 

DOD Class Pinpoints E-Gov Definition - 6/4/02
Government Computer News (05/20/02) Vol. 21, No. 11, P. 44; Temin, Thomas R. 

An instructor and his students at the National Defense University have chosen two descriptions of e-government as the term's best definitions. A vague and unclear understanding of e-government could hurt efforts to establish it, they reasoned, and so they sought out the two best descriptions. The students and a professor of information systems, Phillip A. Irish III, chose definitions from Microsoft and the state of Missouri. In Microsoft's definition, e-government delivers integrated public services electronically over PCs, WebTV, and wireless technology; ensures security thorough digital signatures, smart cards, and certificates; and provides personalized and interactive services that treat citizens as individuals. Missouri's definition says e-government allows government to interact electronically with citizens, companies, and other governments, possibly in the form of filings, payments, or obtaining information; the ability to pay taxes, renew licenses, etc. over the Web; and has one-stop transactional services delivered via a Web portal. Irish says his class will present the findings to the CIO Council and to certain congressional members. "It was clear there was no agreed-on formula everyone was using," says Judith Orman of the Defense Information Systems Agency and a student in Irish's class.

Read DOD class pinpoints e-gov definition featured in the May 20, 2002 issue of Government Computer News.