An e-Governance training model for public managers: the case of selected Free State Provincial departments

Abstract

The stellar growth of Internet-related technologies and the emergence of the so-called knowledge society introduced new forms of exchanges and collaboration between citizenry and government. Governments had to respond by optimally utilising technology to facilitate the rise of electronic (e-)governance for improved interactions with society. The availability of a skilled workforce with the capacity for learning is essential for e-governance, along with other factors such as administrative leadership, regulatory frameworks, financial resources, organisational conditions, and information technology infrastructure. In light of this reality, there is a need to introduce appropriate training models to train public managers in e-governance applications. This article reflects on an empirical study undertaken in selected Free State provincial departments to determine the level of e-readiness of public managers with the aim to design an e-governance training model. It outlines contextual perspectives regarding the utilisation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in promoting e-governance including an analysis of the seemingly insufficient alignment between government operational demands and the e-readiness of public managers. The main contribution of this article is the presentation of a comprehensive e-Governance Training Model that emanated from this survey.