A STUDY OF E-GOVERNMENT AND E-GOVERNANCE: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF MUNICIPAL WEBSITES

Web site progression has been rapid in the public sector especially in terms of functionality and performance Public sector Web sites have sought to go beyond the static dissemination of contact information The following study highlights two constructs of information technology and the public sector e-government and e-governance An examination of Web sites for the 20 largest cities in the US reveals that e-government is prominently practiced However e-governance applications are only marginally practiced via the Internet The research further highlights the most popular Web site functions offered by municipalities While e-governance applications may help cultivate a governmental landscape where people feel more connected to government and citizens are better able to participate in decision-making processes the interactive dynamic between citizens and government cannot be resolved fully through technology