The Role of Local Governments in Information Society

Abstract

With the growing accessibility of electronic local governmental services local governments are facing new challenges both from the point of view of the organisation of duties and of their client services. If we analyse the network of relationships local governments have grown into with the development of information society, we will see that they will have to tackle many more and entirely different types of tasks. These tasks have broader significance than a simple reorganisation of the offices, the computerization of certain processes, the elaboration and the introduction of an internet-based front office. As I will point out, local governments will have a much more specific role in information society. They must find access between functionality and content, they need to find the opportunity that makes peace between the local identities and the global network.