Exploring the Interrelations Between Electronic Government and the new Public Management

Abstract

This paper explores how electronic government (e-government) can be understood in the context of business administration. Our focus is on non- technical issues: we concentrate on the analysis of organizational, cultural and managerial aspects, in order to approach the possible development of e- government and its implications on the public sector at different state levels. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between the Public Management – particularly in the form of the New Public Management (NPM) – and e- government. Based on the outcomes of the analysis mentioned above, an attempt is made to identify the greatest problems that governments will have to face with respect to the introduction of e-government, and what kind of – if any – contribution the disciplines of business administration and NPM can make to resolve these problems. In order to achieve these goals, we set up a conceptual framework for e-government from the perspective of NPM and analyze its components. Our conclusion is that e-government can be interpreted as a reform element that supports the idea behind the NPM and, with its technological equipment, eases modernization as a whole.