Improving the Transparency, Openness and Efficiency of E-Government in Qatar in the Era of Open Government Data, and Beyond
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IMPROVING THE TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS AND EFFICIENCY OF E-GOVERNMENT IN QATAR IN THE ERA OF OPEN GOVERNMENT DATA, AND BEYOND Ali Selham Al-Kubaisi B. Sc. (Computer Engineering), Florida Institute of Technology Master of Information Technology, University of Newcastle Principal Supervisor: Professor Anne Fitzgerald Associate Supervisor: Dr. Benjamin McEniery A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Law as part of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science Faculty of Law Queensland University of Technology 2014 Keywords Qatar, E-Government, Web 2.0, Open Government, Open Government Data, OGD, Open Data, Social Media, Social Networks, Participative Networks, Transparency, Participation, Civic engagement, Public participation, Openness. Abstract Using the Internet, governments can gain huge benefits in terms of savings in their national expenditure, dissemination of public information, and provision of services in more efficient and effective ways than were previously possible. Consequently, e-Government has become a global phenomenon. Governments, both in the developed and developing world, are making significant investments in order to gain more efficient, open and interactive government. However, the general public’s acceptance of e-Government has lagged behind expectations. Governments worldwide are now embracing Web 2.0 technologies to increase the adoption of their e-Government systems, by further opening up their systems and transactions towards more transparent and participative government, through Open Government and Open Government Data initiatives. This thesis investigates how Open Government Data (OGD) concepts and practices might be implemented in the State of Qatar, as a case study of developing countries, in order to achieve more transparent, effective and accountable government. This investigation begins with an examination of how governments in the developed world are using the Internet and information and communication technologies to disseminate government information and to open up their internal transactions for public scrutiny, and discusses the factors contributing to these developments. This is followed by an in-depth case study of OGD practices in the State of Qatar through examination and analysis of its current OGD initiative and direct interviews with the responsible government officials. The thesis concludes with recommendations for Qatar on how to enhance the accessibility and reusability of its OGD and implement successful and sustainable OGD systems and practices, thereby increasing government transparency and openness. Improving the Transparency, Openness and Efficiency of e-Government in Qatar in the era of Open Government Data, and Beyond i Table of Contents Keywords ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. ii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 The Purpose of This Research ..................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Background .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Key Concepts ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 E-government ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.5.1 What is meant by ‘e-Government’? ................................................................................ 11 1.5.2 Chronology of e-Government ......................................................................................... 13 1.5.3 Significance and Driving Factors ................................................................................... 15 1.5.4 Levels and Domains ....................................................................................................... 16 1.5.5 Benefits and promised outcomes .................................................................................... 17 1.5.6 Examples of the direct benefits of e-Government .......................................................... 19 1.5.7 E-Government’s Challenges and Impediments............................................................... 21 1.5.8 E-government and the people: the lost link .................................................................... 26 1.5.9 Government and the real need to change to an open relationship with the people (‘Open Government’) ..................................................................................................... 28 1.5.10 User acceptance: the pivotal foundation for e-government success ............................... 29 1.6 Open Government and Open Government Data (OGD) ............................................................ 31 1.6.1 G8 Open Data Charter .................................................................................................... 32 1.6.2 Web 2.0’s Effect on e-government ................................................................................. 33 1.7 Context of the research .............................................................................................................. 35 1.8 Significance of the research ....................................................................................................... 36 1.9 Qatar’s e-government ................................................................................................................. 38 1.10 Research Problem ...................................................................................................................... 40 1.11 Method and Research Plan ......................................................................................................... 41 1.12 Thesis Outline ............................................................................................................................ 44 CHAPTER 2: THE SHIFT TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT ................................................ 47 2.1 The Open Access Movement ..................................................................................................... 47 2.2 Open government overview AND The priorities of Governments ............................................ 49 2.3 Web 2.0, the new Social Media ................................................................................................. 53 2.3.1 What is Web 2.0? ............................................................................................................ 57 2.3.2 Web 2.0 characteristics ................................................................................................... 59 2.3.3 Web 2.0 applications ...................................................................................................... 61 2.3.4 Web 2.0 Technologies .................................................................................................... 64 2.4 The Current status of e-Government and the need for Open Government ................................. 66 2.5 Countries Worldwide and the Shift towards ‘Openness’ and ‘Open Data’ ................................ 68 Improving the Transparency, Openness and Efficiency of e-Government in Qatar in the era of Open Government Data, and Beyond ii 2.5.1 Critiques of ‘Open Data’ ................................................................................................ 71 2.6 The importance of transparency ................................................................................................. 74 CHAPTER 3: THE BENEFITS OF OPENNESS AND OPEN DATA .......................................... 76 3.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 76 3.2 Social Justice Theory ................................................................................................................. 76 3.3 Human Rights Theory ................................................................................................................ 79 3.4 Knowledge Gap Theory ............................................................................................................. 81 3.5 Economic Theory ....................................................................................................................... 82 3.6 Innovation Theory .....................................................................................................................