e-Parliament to e-democracy : creating a model for effective management of public content

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Information and communication technology (ICT) has facilitated the implementation ofe-parliament to ensure representivity, transparency, accessibility, accountability andeffectiveness of parliaments. However, the shift from e-parliament to e-democracy mayrequire parliaments to focus not only on efficiencies but also on improving the quality ofinteraction leading to changes in behaviour that support democracy.The study explores the current set-up in respect of the implementation of e-parliamentglobally, the initiatives that are being made and the challenges being experienced. It doesthis by examining literature regarding the latest developments in e-parliament and recentsurveys on emerging utility trends. Consideration is given to particular initiatives in theAfrican context, such as the Bungeni information management system. These are aimedat facilitating the push towards democracy that is assisted by ICT (e-democracy).A comparative analysis focusing on policies, technology, practices and organisationalculture in the implementation of e-parliament, as a transitional stage towards edemocracy,is made with respect to the parliaments or chambers of the Czech Republic,India, Kenya and South Africa. The outcome of this analysis has important lessons for theuse of ICT to support democracy, particularly for South Africa. It also generates anumber of issues, for example the importance of knowledge management andorganisational design for improving the parliament-citizen interface, which requireconsideration by parliaments in general.A seamless platform for facilitating engagement between parliament and the majority ofcitizens is designed through the adaptation of the e-business model. The platformintegrates ICT infrastructure, processes and human resource in a knowledge managementenvironment.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University