Ingrid Pappel

Implementation of service-based e-government and establishment of state IT components interoperability at local authorities

This paper addresses different institutional and technological contexts, which must be considered when implementing e-government features at local authorities. Estonian success in establishment of nation-wide digital record management is based on broad use of various centralized IT solutions (X-road, DEC etc.) and provision of interoperability of those solutions. Initial prerequisite for efficient paperless and record management is a well-implemented and well-operating electronic record management system that constitutes the main process layer of a local authority. This paper is based on e-governance project1 which has enabled to provide facilities for paperless management in about 100 local authorities. The paper concludes with a discussion of the advantages of service-based orientation for this project, and based on this, recommendations for similar projects with an infrastructural component undertaken by local governments.

The Design of the Estonian Governmental Document Exchange Classification Framework

The Digital Agenda 2020 for Estonia aims for a simpler state. A crucial success factor in making the public sector more effective and efficient is achieving a very high degree of paperless official communication. Therefore, in 2015, the Estonian government conducted an assessment of the document exchange between its authorities and institutions. Given the large number of 400 assessed organizations and the complexity of the task, the assessment needed extensive and systematic preparation. Hence, a tailored assessment framework, the so-called document exchange classification framework (DECF), has been developed for this purpose. This article explains the rationales and problems in the design of the DECF. The DECF enables the analysis of document exchanges between different kinds of information systems, via different channels and between different kinds of organizations. The feedback received with the help of the DECF allows for counting the volume and kind of documents that an organisation produces whilst providing a service. It helps to optimise the volume of produced documents and to optimise the service provision layer.

Methodology for measuring the digital capability of local governments

This paper describes developing and testing the methodology for measuring the digital capability of local governments. The aim of the methodology is to measure the participation (intention) of local governments in having a say in the information society and to measure their inherent capabilities for providing services. The aim is achieved by identifying both the processes and actions that are done on paper or inefficiently. Also the improvement of effectiveness of these processes during time shall be measured. The indicators and methodology were developed in 2011 and the first measurements were also carried out. The aim was to carry out the measurements in all the local governments of Estonia and adjust the methodology so it could be used in other EU countries as well.

Conception and activity directions for training and science centre supporting development of Estonian e-state technologies

The development of information technology markedly changes the current working routines and requires more and more innovative solutions in the provision of public-sector services. The main goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the e-state technologies laboratory being elaborated at the Tallinn University of Technology as a learning and science centre for the development and implementation of e-government technologies. The laboratory enables to aggregate best-practice academic knowledge, as well as the needs of the public sector and the experience of the private sector in the field of e-state solutions. The transition methodology emerging as a result of sectoral developments should ensure the public sectors smooth shift into the information society. In addition, as a result of the development of a new study speciality, efficient field competency will be provided.

On the Systematic Exploitation of the Estonian Data Exchange Layer X-Road for Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships

The concept of Public-Private Partnerships has found a large variety of different approaches since the 1980s and each country has found its own interpretation. In later years, Estonia has also strengthened a collaboration between public and private sector, while a data exchange layer X-Road, initially developed for the public data sets to communicate, is now also been open for private entities to use and thus shows the great potential for Public-Private Partnerships to grow further. As there are still quite a small amount of private sector entities attached themselves to the X-Road, there must be the reason, why the private sector has not gone along with the platform. In order to find out how to design a unified platform for public agencies and private entities, authors have conducted face-to-face interviews as well as an online questionnaire among different private sector organizations. As a result, authors will provide various recommendations, in order to make a platform more acceptable for both public as well as private entities and to strengthen the intersectoral collaboration. The research was supported by the Estonian Information System Authority (EISA).

Driving Forces and Design of the TTÜ e-Governance Technologies and Services Master’s Program

The development of e-governance is impossible without appropriately training qualified professionals in this field. The lack of untrained personnel in government offices provided the need to create an interdisciplinary program linking different domains such as IT, law and public sector. This paper discusses the creation and development of a Master’s study program in e-Governance Technologies and Services, highlighting the most common obstacles and providing solutions. The curriculum prepares managers and specialists to be responsible for the development of e-Governance in organizations and e-Government initiatives. It enables them to master the management and business processes related to e-Governance. Students gain broad knowledge about the makings of a modern state and the transition process into e-Governance.

Systematic Digital Signing in Estonian e-Government Processes

In Estonia, digital signing started with the Digital Signatures Act already as early as in 2000. The aim to make digital signing and its use with various types of documents more convenient and efficient has had a high priority in the state’s e-Governance initiative. In this article we provide a study of the systematic introduction and use of digital signatures with documents related to decision-making processes and analyze the factors which influence this. We look at local governments as a major use case and provide an overview of the digital signing statistics for local government document exchange. The article highlights the differences related to the size and administrative capacity of the local governments as well as their readiness to transition into the information society.

Key Success Factors in Introducing National e-Identification Systems

The following article seeks to investigate what the main success factors are when implementing national e-identification systems as a part of e-governance strategies. The article reviews the case of Ukraine that currently is in the beginning of e-identification management system deployment. In frames of the paper, positive experience of foreign countries in electronic identity management is examined aiming to outline lessons that can be learned by Ukraine. The article aims to identify main issues and problems that inhibit the development of successful e-identification system in Ukraine assuming citizens’ awareness as one of the key success factors. Positioning it as a crucial factor is underpinned by means of conducting a survey among Ukrainian citizens. Based on conducted interviews with officials, a local government e-identity solution is discussed as a project that can be potentially applicable on a national level. Personal vision of authors on improving and raising citizens’ awareness on e-government and e-identification is presented as a recommendation for stakeholders’ consideration, being at the same time a hypothesis for future studies.

E-Residency as a Nation Branding Case

Estonia is known for its success in establishing successful e-governance practices and services for citizens as well as to the businesses. Estonian e-Government competences, including uniquely wide usage of electronic ID and services connected to it, such as digital administration, e-voting, are clearly the countrys competitive advantage. All that has led Estonia towards digital society and government. Thus the success story of Estonian e-Government allows e-Estonia to be a successful country brand and helped to create a new project e-Residency. The e-concept of the e-Residency seems to be a successful continuation of Estonian e-governance development, moving its services internationally, increasing worldwide awareness of Estonia success in the field and attracting businesses and investments to the country. With no doubt, the unique approach has attracted international attention and promoted Estonia as an innovative developed country and digital society. In this paper we will discuss how government and nation benefit from successful nation branding. We will explain the concept itself, also introduce some most popular services consumed by e-resident and argue how this approach has been beneficial for Estonian society in general. The goal of the paper is to describe e-Residency concept ASIS and suggest topics to study and develop further. The paper will show how e-residency became a successful country-branding case and brings out some critique arisen whilst implementing e-Residency.

Key Factors in Coping with Large-Scale Security Vulnerabilities in the eID Field

In 2017, the encryption vulnerability of a widespread chip led to major, nation-wide eID card incidents in several EU countries. In this paper, we investigate the Estonian case. We start with an analysis of the Estonian eID field in terms of stakeholders and their responsibilities. Then, we describe the incident management from the inside perspective of the crisis management team, covering the whole incident timeline (including issues in response, continuity and recovery). From this, we are able to derive key factors in coping with large-scale security vulnerabilities in the eID field (public-private partnership, technical factors, crisis management, documentation), which encourages further research and systematization.