These core benefits can be seen
used to substitute for other channels)
groups will be denied them, and a chal-
reflected in a broader set of m-
provides an additional channel for
lenge to m-government is to ensure it
government benefits, including:
interactions all stakeholders in gover-
is not just one more way in which the
Increasing the productivity of public
nance - service deliverers, policy
"haves" benefit at the expense of the
service personnel : m-government
makers, service consumers, civil soci-
"have nots".
allows public servants to enter data
ety representatives. This provides
Mobile mindsets : mobile devices -
into digital systems exactly where they
greater choice.
cell phones particularly - are seen by
are in the field. Not only does this
Lower costs leading to higher partici-
many as more tools for fun and enter-
move data-gathering closer to real-
pation : the hope in relation to the polit-
tainment than for serious activities.
time operations, it also reduces the
ical process is that, by reducing the
Yet politics is a serious business
time public servants spend on data
time and effort of communication, m-
involving difficult choices. Aligning
activities, thus releasing more of their
government will encourage more
these two mismatched worlds may be
time for value added, service-related
communication, from e-voting, to
difficult. One sign already emerging of
activities. For example, where previ-
contributions to political debates, to
this underlying tension is the use of m-
ously reports would be noted on paper
complaints or queries.
government systems for playing
in the field and then retyped back at
Challenges
pranks, such as hoax messaging,
base, they can now be entered
The M - Government does face a
encouraged by the anonymity that
directly, not only removing duplication
number of challenges:
many mobile devices (which are often
of effort but also reducing the number
Cost : m-government tends to be yet
unregistered) offer.
of data errors.
one further channel for e-government,
Increasing the effectiveness of public
in which case it will create additional
service personnel : public servants in
costs. This will continue until m-
the field currently have to make do
government can truly substitute for
with the data they carry around with
other delivery channels. Such substi-
them - in their heads or in portable
tution will be viable for applications
files. With m-government, they can
within government. However, it would
take the whole of digitised government
create serious problems for systems
with them into the field, allowing them
linking to citizens given the number of
to make much better-informed deci-
people who are likely to remain with-
sions and actions.
out mobile ICT devices for the fore-
Improving the delivery of government
seeable future. Hence, such systems
information and services : m-
are likely to be cost-addition rather
government can deliver data and
than cost-substitution initiatives. At
services whenever and wherever the
least some governments have been
citizen is. This has a benefit to citizens
able to adopt innovative costing strat-
- they can get immediate access to
egies, for example, using fee-sharing
whatever they want no matter where
arrangements that avoid the public
they are. It also has a benefit to
sector having to provide many up-front
governments - for example in sending
costs.
terror alerts or other very time-
M-Digital divide : as just noted, not
sensitive information, m-government
everyone has a mobile phone. In
provides the greatest chance of
particular, older and poorer groups in
getting through quickly and directly.
society tend to be excluded from this
Increasing channels for public inter-
technology. If there are benefits to be
actions : m-government (where not
had from m-government, these
18
Issue 71 December 2013
2013 71

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