Simon Hakim

Erwin A. Blackstone

The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and the natural disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated the challenges that governments face in initial response and recovery efforts. This book details the important steps that governors and mayors have initiated to address the serious problems illustrated by these recent disasters. The innovative solutions include developing more reliable communications, creating public–private partnerships to supplement public emergency services, establishing fusion c- ters that interpret information, and creating joint operations centers to manage the response to the event. There are important lessons to be learned from the managerial and technological innovations that the governors and mayors describe in this book. As the Mayor of Philadelphia and now as the Governor of Pennsylvania, I have contributed to three books on best practices of state and local governments. I am pleased to participate in the efforts of the Center for Competitive Government of the Fox School at Temple University to address the important issues faced by governments. This book makes an important contribution to the public discussion on the public and private sectors’ role in homeland security. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell vii Acknowledgement The editors would like to acknowledge Dr. M. Moshe Porat, Dean of the Fox School at Temple where the Center for Competitive Government is located. His strong c- tribution and support for the Mayors’ Summits is most appreciated. Many chapters for our books including this one emanated from these Summits.

Governors and Mayors Speak Out

Safeguarding Homeland Security

Michael L. Bognanno

Michael Bognanno

In Innovations in E-Government, Erwin A. Blackstone, Michael L. Bognanno, and Simon Hakim make the case that E-government is expected to make middle management of lesser value and flatten the pyramid of management in government. Improved communications, measurability of output, and the greater accountability of workers will reduce the necessary level of worker supervision and reduce the need for middle management. In turn, decisions by top management become more transparent and their accountability will also rise. Thus, as a result of improved technology, government could become leaner. Workers will be more empowered, efficient, and accountable. When considering the long term effects of e-government on the structure and activities of government, increased transparency becomes a most beneficial aspect. When activities are reported, meetings are broadcast and information is easily accessed, citizens become more informed. This will make government more accountable and good governance in one locality will increase the pressure on others to also adopt the same innovations. E-government is a technological innovation and moves from an inefficient and mainly unaccountable bureaucracy to a new entrepreneurial and accountable culture. It enables workers at lower levels of the hierarchy to take part in and be accountable for decision-making. E-government is being used to improve the management of cities and to achieve a more efficient use of resources. In the long run, opportunities exist for e-government to bring about a reorganization of government, one that would reduce excessively bureaucratic processes and organizational structures. It is these changes that may ultimately bring the biggest cost savings to taxpayers.

Erwin A. Blackstone

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