What should government agencies do with information that is relevant for citizens?

ABSTRACT

New technological opportunities and increasing demands make it imperative that government agencies make the information they gather available to citizens. How should they go about this? This paper explores the information strategies open to the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management in the Netherlands. This agency gathers traffic information which is useful for citizens when they want to avoid traffic jams. Presently, the agency sells information to intermediaries. The agency wanted to release the information through its own website but a court ruling prohibited this. This paper reviews other strategies and concludes that an 'Intel inside' strategy may be a viable option in view of the consequences for effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services
          Subjects: Data sharing

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services
          Subjects: Web-based services

  J. Computer Applications
  J.1 ADMINISTRATIVE DATA PROCESSING
      Subjects: Government

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.5 LEGAL ASPECTS OF COMPUTING
      K.5.2 Governmental Issues
          Subjects: Regulation
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management
          Subjects: Strategic information systems planning

General Terms:
Design, Legal Aspects, Management, Theory

Keywords:
information strategy, public information, structuration