This document discusses devolution in e-governance from the perspective of different architectures, frameworks, and models. It defines types of devolution including political, fiscal, administrative, and e-governance. The research question asks how to define and frame devolution in centralized e-governance with respect to traditional forms of devolution. Theories on decentralization and enterprise architectures are discussed to support analyzing e-governance devolution. A proposed methodology involves assessing existing frameworks for explaining e-governance devolution and modifying them if needed.

1. Devolution in e-governance in
perspective of different
architectures, frameworks and
models
Paper in Progress

2. Devolution (in general)
• “Devolution to lower levels has to involve a
meaningful transfer of authority to be
acceptable and to work effectively. It also
has to maintain horizontal equity by
ensuring a fair distribution of fiscal and
other resources across the units”
(Ferguson and Chandrasekharan 2004)

3. Types of Devolution
• Political
• Fiscal
• Administrative
• e-Governance
Transfer of powers from centralized e-gov to sub-
national. These powers may be planning,
business process re-engineering, change
management, enterprise architecture, networks,
portals, back-offices, e-services, etc.

4. Importance
eGov Legislation Governing Structure
2008 2005 2004 2003 EA
Sweden 1 3 4 2 Future issue No Multi-level
Denmark 2 2 2 4 Yes No Multi-level
Norway 3 10 10 7 Future issue Barriers Multi-level
United States 4 1 1 1 Yes Gaps Multi-level
Netherlands 5 12 11 11 Yes No Multi-level
Jaeger criticized the US constitutional gaps related to doctrines of Federalism
and the separation of powers must be reflected in the planning and implementation
of an E-government (Jaeger 2002)
In most countries, superior e-government components and services are at the
federal or national level, and local governments are generally infancy stage of
e-government establishment (Lee, 2005)

5. Research Question
• How can define and frame the devolution in centralized e-
governance with respect to political, fiscal and administrative
devolution of traditional governance?
Sub-Questions
• What is devolution in e-governance and its relation with other
devolutions?
• How to address it in National Enterprise Architecture?
• Define boundaries and overlapping of e-gov. devolution with other
approaches like shared services, collaborative approach, New
Public Management (NPM) and Application Service Provider
(ASP)?
• Identify the common devolved powers and their relations with
political, fiscal and administrative devolved powers?

6. Supporting Theories
• "Souffle" Theory of decentralization
(related to traditional governing system)
• Centralized vs. Decentralized
Management of Public Information
Systems: A Core-Periphery Solution
• Enterprise Architectures (EAs)
Zachman, RM-ODP, TOGAF, FEA etc.

7. "Souffle" Theory of decentralization
• Parker (1995) presented
the role of political, fiscal, and institutional
decentralization as they relate to rural
development outcomes.
• Like a Souffle that needs just the right
combination of milk, eggs, and heat to rise, a
successful program of decentralization must
include just the right combination of political,
fiscal, and institutional elements to improve rural
development outcomes (Parker 1995)

8. A Core-Periphery Solution
• Richard Heeks suggested a solution for the decentralization of
information systems of public sector.
• He categorized the eight main areas for centralization or
decentralization that are
– planning,
– organizational structures and staffing,
– data management, computing and
– data management architecture,
– information systems development,
– information technology acquisition,
– training, and
– technical support.
• With centralized approach on these areas, many benefits can be
achieved, but requires some severe constraints to be overcome.

9. Enterprise Architectures (EAs)
• 67 % of governments are working on government EA programs but
most of them are at infancy stage (Christiansen and Gotze 2007)
• US Intergovernmental Advisory Board (IAB 2003) has categorized
five benefits of e-government as
– 1) Financial: Reduced costs of government operations/enhanced
revenue collection,
– 2) Economic development,
– 3) Reduced redundancy: Consolidating and integrating government
systems,
– 4) Fostering democratic principles and
– 5) Improved service to citizens and other constituencies
• Lau describes three types of benefits
– 1) direct financial costs and benefits,
– 2) direct nonfinancial costs and benefits and
– 3) indirect costs and benefits (Lau 2007).

10. Research Methodology
Searching of any existing
framework, model approach or
EA related to Information
system or e-government
Is it explaining the
decentralization in e- Modification or extension
governance with respect to in the EA, model or
No
political, fiscal and framework for e-Gov.
administrative? Devolution
Yes
Details of the decentralization in e-governance with Proposed EA
Assessment
respect to political, fiscal and administrative
Research
Paper

11. EA Evaluation
• Devolution plan
• Central gov powers
• Local gov powers
• Legal cover of these powers
• Any conflict with Political devolution
• Any conflict with fiscal devolution
• Any conflict with administrative devolution
• Is any BPR needed for these powers?
• Is any change management needed for these powers?

12. Enterprise Architecture
Assessment Guide V 2.2
• By Institute For Enterprise Architecture
Developments
• Score Card method
• Score Card has four evaluation areas
– Business
– Information
– Information System
– Technology Infrastructure

13. Score Card