The Architecture of Global ICT Programs: A Case Study of E-Governance in Jordan

Shirin Madon is the accepting Associate Editor for this article.

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on e-governance policy initiatives in Jordan as a case study of the architecture of ICT programs and of the global transformation of government. We find that global ICT programs introduce new and universal modes of organising centered on innovation and technology initiatives situated across various boundaries, territories and organisational domains and implemented through a novel mix of policy instruments, international institutions, business interests and techno/managerial concepts. Global ICT programs include the development and use of portals, interactive applications an also other ICT programs which aim at the electronic provision of government's services. We conclude that casting these issues as global ICT programs could cater for a much broader inter-disciplinary significance to guide the policy direction of future e-governance initiatives and to evaluate the extent to which the architecture of global ICT programs can contribute to the ambitious targets set by the Millennium Development Goals.

Keywords:

• global ICT programs
• e-governance
• networks
• organizations
• government
• governance
• development
• Jordan

Acknowledgements

Although it is single authored, this paper is heavily based on my PhD thesis, which benefited from the wise steering, encouragement and ongoing support of my supervisor Dr Tony Cornford, to whom I am immensely grateful. I would also like to thank the associate editors of the Journal of Information Technology and Development, Prof Yola Georgiadou and Dr Shirin Madon. Thanks also to the anonymous reviewers for their patience and constructive comments through the various reviews of this paper between 2007 and 2009. Finally, I would like to thank the late Prof Claudio Ciborra and the Jordanian people, especially Basma, Mamhoud and Deema for their Mediterranean hospitality.

Notes

Shirin Madon is the accepting Associate Editor for this article.

This has proposed the largest increase in foreign assistance since the 1960s starting from US$ 1.6 billion for 2004, ramping up to US$ 5 billion by 2006 (Dobriansky, 2003).

Int@j is the trait d'union between the local private sector, the multinational companies involved at various levels in the e-government initiatives and the MoICT.

Due to space constraints it is not possible to elaborate in a greater length. Further details are available in Navarra (2006).