How to Assess Whether Qualified Evaluations of e-Government Projects Are Conducted? The Case of Slovenia

Abstract

Countries are investing significant resources in the development of e-government, but evaluations of e-government projects are rarely conducted in a comprehensive way. In order to take the right measures and to be effective in fostering the use and raising the quality of evaluations of e-government projects it is important to reveal the state of the practice. The paper presents the results of the research based on identification of parameters required to be measured in order to conduct qualified evaluations of e-government projects. Thirteen such paramaters were identified via the focus group, with participants comprising (Slovenian) e-government decision-makers and researchers. Using these 13 parameters and 7 additional questions about the knowledge and use of evalution methods a questionnaire was designed and applied in a survey on Slovenian public administration. Employing a binomial test and Fisher’s combined probability test it was established that in Slovenian public administration qualified evaluations of e-government projects were not being conducted. The method has demonstrated an eligible usability both for analysing the general situation and for exposing opportunities for improvement in various specific situations.