E-Government for Public Managers: Administering the Virtual Public Sphere

This handy guide and supplemental text examines trends in information and communication technology (ICT) that impact the day-to-day operations of federal, state, and local government. It seeks to improve service delivery, human resource administration, political participation, education, and citizen input (e-democracy), while at the same time recognizes that with ICT’s great promise comes great peril in the form of erosion of personal privacy (e-surveillance). Through the use of numerous examples and exercises, Robert Cropf helps students and practitioners alike explore the ways technological change shapes public policy, develop useful tools and skills for working in or with e-government, and understand the role that social media plays in helping to spark political, economic, and social change.

Table of Contents:
1. What is E-Government? E-Government and E-Democracy Defined Brief History of E-Government Models of E-Government How to Use This Book Case Study 2. Government 2.0: Using ICT to Improve Service Delivery Role of Government in American Society Private Goods, Public Goods, and Merit Goods How E-Government Can Improve Public Administration The Web and Organizational Change: What the Research Shows Case Study 3. Citizen Engagement and Digital Democracy Virtual Public Spheres: Early Promise and Current Reality Democracy, E-Participation, and E-Voting Online Voting and Digital Democracy Case Study 4. Who’s Watching the Watchdogs?: Protecting Privacy and Maintaining Security in the Digital Age Privacy in the United States Technology and Privacy: An Evolving Relationship Personal Information on Government Websites Case Study 5. The Digital Classroom: Public Education and ICT Challenges Facing Current American Public Education ICT and the Future of Public Education Virtual Learning in K–12: The Next Digital Frontier in Education Public Libraries in the Information Age Case Study 6. Friending City Hall: How Governments and Citizens Can Use Social Media to Help Spur Change Social Media, Web 2.0, and the Network Society Government’s Use of Social Media Social Media and E-Democracy Case Study 7. E-Budgeting Using ICT to Transform Public Budgeting E-Budgeting and Participatory Budgeting E-Procurement Case Study 8. E-Government and Federalism Important Effects of Federalism Information Sharing, Collaboration, and Coordination Within and Across Governments Top-Down or Bottom-Up: What Is the Best Approach to Information Sharing? Coordination Issues: Working with Citizens and Agencies Case Study 9. The Future of E-Government in the United States Impacts of E-Government Emerging Trends in E-Government The Virtual Republic: The Final Stage of E-Government Case Study

About the Author :
Robert A. Cropf is professor of political science at Saint Louis University where he teaches public administration. He is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development and is author of American Public Administration: Public Service for the 21st Century and coauthor of The Public Administration Casebook.

Review :
“I spent fifteen years in the government before coming to academia, and I can say that government and public administration is now wholly and completely ‘e-government’ from a practitioner’s standpoint.” “Cropf offers demonstrated uses of Information and Communications Technology in the areas of budgeting, education, improved service delivery, as well as uses for local government. Cropf’s book is a definite read for any public manager.” “Cropf’s text provides a useful compilation of insights into the promise and perils of ubiquitous information and communication technology in the public sector. It is a valuable addition to the library of those who seek to better understand concepts like ‘e-government,’ ‘Government 2.0,’ and ‘intergovernmental relations.’ . . . I can think of several courses in our Masters in Public Administration program where this would be a contribution. It would fit well in a special topics course and equally so in introduction to public administration.” “Robert Cropf offers an engaging and enjoyable text for students in public administration, public management, public policy, and nonprofit management. The text exposes students to emerging trends in e-government to help prepare them for careers in the modern public sector.”