The Role of E-Governance in Administrative Efficiency and Combating Corruption
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Global Journal of Management and Business Research: G Interdisciplinary Volume 17 Issue 2 Version 1.0 Year 2017 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4588 & Print ISSN: 0975-5853 The Role of E-Governance in Administrative Efficiency and Combating Corruption: Case of Sri Lank By Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Irfan South Eastern University of Sri Lanka Abstract- The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in serving as a mechanism to improve effective public service delivery, better transparency and combating corruption in developed and developing countries. This study examines the role of e-Governance in administrative efficiency and combating corruption, specifically Sri Lankan perspective. The main objective of this study is to analysis the present status and practical challenges between e- Governance, administrative efficiency and corruption in Sri Lanka. This study is a qualitative research and data were collected mainly from secondary sources. The challenges arise from lack of interpersonal and fully fledge computer users, absence of Good Will’ of politicians and bureaucrats, inadequately functioning e-Government infrastructure and implementation capacity, constantly changing political environment, failure ICT policies, lack of legal framework etc. Keywords: e-governance, administrative efficiency, combating corruption, ICT. GJMBR-G Classification: JEL Code: G30 TheRoleofEGovernanceinAdministrativeEfficiencyandCombatingCorruptionCaseofSriLank Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2017. Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Irfan. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non- commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The Role of E-Governance in Administrative Efficiency and Combating Corruption: Case of Sri Lank Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Irfan Abstract- The role of information and communication (G2G) Services (Akman et al., 2005). Overall, e- technology (ICT) in serving as a mechanism to improve Governance definition focuses on the use of ICT to effective public service delivery, better transparency and assist in the administration or management of 2017 combating corruption in developed and developing countries. government. ICTs have been changing every aspect of ear This study examines the role of e-Governance in administrative human life and nation such as public service, religion, Y efficiency and combating corruption, specifically Sri Lankan perspective. The main objective of this study is to analysis the culture, education, poverty, global security, gross 39 present status and practical challenges between e- domestic product (GDP), gross national income (GNI), Governance, administrative efficiency and corruption in Sri level of corruption etc. Lanka. This study is a qualitative research and data were b) Administrative efficiency collected mainly from secondary sources. The challenges arise from lack of interpersonal and fully fledge computer Administrative efficiency looking systematic users, absence of Good Will’ of politicians and bureaucrats, progress and well organized administration (Payne & inadequately functioning e-Government infrastructure and Pheysey 1971). The dimensions specialization (division implementation capacity, constantly changing political of labor within the organization) and environment, failure ICT policies, lack of legal framework etc. standardization/formalization (standardization of roles, But, the challenges can be changed by enchanting necessary interdepartmental communication) contribute in a actions like awareness program and proper training, positive way to administrative efficiency, in contrast the strengthening mobile government, ensuring website dimension centralization is a negative way to information in major languages (English, Tamil and Sinhala), administrative efficiency. Administrative efficiency can policy makers to ensure user friendly and congenial policy ) implementation, strengthening stakeholders and citizen be interpreted as the efficiency of the gathering, G ( feedback, strengthening the Public Private Partnership (PPP), processing and communicating of information citizen’s, who seen the country clean and corruption free, (Spenkelink 2012). multi-pronged strategy etc. The results suggest that sufficiently c) Corruption demonstrates that e-Governance can be a very effective tool in improve administrative efficiency and combating or altogether Corruption is an enemy in effective service abolished corruption. delivery; it is a global issue and vital challenge to the Keywords: e-governance, administrative efficiency, promotion of good governance, sustainable combating corruption, ICT. development, democracy, peace and social harmony. A legal definition of ‘corruption’ is both difficult and I. Introduction complex (Indraratna 2015). However, Transparency International has defined corruption as the “abuse of a) E-governance entrusted power for private gain” nformation technology has thoughtful impact in the (Transparency International 2016). Proper education, global world. “e-Governance comprises the use of good function of modern government, good relationship ICTs to support public services, government I between government and citizens, take strong administration, democratic processes and relationships punishment against corrupt person and institutional among citizens, civil society, the private sector, and the capacity are the tools to reduce corruption (Kaur 2015). state” (Dawes 2008:S86). e-Governance develops in a The e-Governance strategies are serving as a country is a function of the collective national and local mechanism effort on the quality of governance and capital supplying information technology services and of combating corruption across the global world. In Global Journal of Management and Business Research Volume XVII Issue II Version I informal social and human capital creating a demand for addition to that, the aim of this study is to examine the e-Governance (Rose, 2005). Which services are role of e-Governance in administrative efficiency and categorized as Government to Citizen (G2C), combating corruption in Sri Lanka and to analysis the Government to Business (G2B), Government to present status and practical challenges between e- Employees (G2E) and Government to Government Governance, administrative efficiency and corruption in Sri Lanka. Author: South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. e-mail: [email protected] ©2017 Global Journals Inc. (US) The Role of E-Governance in Administrative Efficiency and Combating Corruption: Case of Sri Lank The paper is organized as follows: e- secondary sources. This paper critically analyzed Governance and administrative efficiency; e- published research in the forms of books, academic Governance and administrative efficiency in Sri Lanka; journals, newspapers, government related report, e-Governance and corruption; e-Governance and internet articles and relevant research articles. combating corruption in Sri Lanka; e-Participation and combating corruption in Sri Lanka; practical challenges III. E-Governance and Administrative of e-Governance and finally way forward and conclusion Efficiency are provided. Administrative efficiency looking systematic II. Methodology progress and well organized administration (Payne & Pheysey 1971).The dimensions specialization and In order to examine the role of e-governance in standardization/formalization contribute in a positive way administrative efficiency and combating corruption, this to administrative efficiency, in contrast the dimension study uses the empirical evidence to analysis status of 2017 centralization is a negative way to administrative efficiency, combating corruption and practical efficiency. An overview of the model can be seen in the ear challenges observed in Sri Lanka context. This study is a figure 1 below. Y qualitative research and data were collected mainly from 40 Formalization/ Standardization + Administrative - Centralization + Efficiency Specialization Figure 1: Administrative efficiency model E-Governance contributes towards service delivery of different public services (project, effectiveness, efficiency and equity in public services online service etc.) for example, Austria, Brazil, Australia, ) G that further enhances the quality of public service etc. ( delivery (Pathak et.al 2008) the policy framework, Governance structures (Hierarchy, enhanced public services, high-quality and cost- Specialization, Role-specificity), mechanisms (Market, effective government operations, citizen engagement in Hierarchy, Hybrid), processes (Risk free, professionally democratic processes, and administrative and managed) and values (Transparency, Accountability, institutional reform are consistent objectives of e- Integrity, Rationality, Confidentiality) which conform to Governance (Dawes 2008). It has to assist in provision best guarantees administrative efficiency (Basheka, of services, employee support and recognition Tumutegyereize and Sabiit 2012). Achieving programs, recognition of customers in the delivery of administrative efficiency is one of the objectives followed local services, concept of ‘‘one-stop’’ customer counter, by e-Governance (Vanderose, Degraveand Habra and use of performance measurement to assist in a 2015). Good governance