E-Government Unit

The e-Government Unit (eGU), the largest unit of the Cabinet Office of the government of the United Kingdom, is responsible for helping various government departments use information technology to increase efficiency and improve electronic access to government services. It is therefore deeply involved in issues of e-Government.

It was created by Prime Minister Tony Blair in September 2004, [cite press release | title=From E-Envoy to E-Government | publisher=UK Cabinet Office | url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2004/250504_egov.asp |date=2004-05-25] replacing the Office of the e-Envoy.

It's first head was Ian Watmore, [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2004/sep/02/internet.egovernment1|title=What a way to run the country|date=2 September 2004|publisher=The Guardian|author=SA Mathiason] who was succeeded in January 2006 by Andrew Stott. [cite news|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/10/watmore_leaves_e-government/|title=e-Government head's parting shot|date=10 January 2006|publisher=The Register|accessdate=2008-07-09]

Mission

The eGU’s stated mission is to "ensur [e] that IT supports the business transformation of Government itself so that we can provide better, more efficient, public services."

The eGU is responsible for
* formulating information technology (IT) strategy and policy
* developing common IT components for use across government
* promoting best practices across government
* delivering citizen-centered online services

The eGU website lists 6 guiding principles [cite web | title=About eGU | url=http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/e-government/about/ | accessdate=2006-09-15] for the unit:
# To work on public service projects, not just IT projects
# To add value and support, rather than control or dictate
# To undertake partnerships with departments and suppliers
# To set realistic expectations and aim to exceed them
# To promote global best practices
# To share solutions when possible, and offer flexibility to meet unique needs

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the eGU include:
* Strategy - To develop policy and planning for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the Government and to provide an element of programme management; To support the Government's objectives for public service delivery and administrative efficiency.
* Architecture - To provide policy, design, standards, governance, advice and guidance for ICT in central government; To commission government-wide infrastructure and services; To address issues of systems integration with other levels of government.
* Innovation - To provide high-level advice to government bodies on innovative opportunities that come from ICT.
* IT Finance - To monitor major IT projects in the Government and give advice on major investment decisions (in partnership with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC)).
* IT HR - To lead the Government’s professional IT development.
* Projects - To take on ad hoc policy and strategy studies to support ministers, the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.
* Research - To identify and communicate key technology trends, opportunities, threats and risks.
* Security - To oversee government IT security policy, standards, monitoring and assurance, and contingency-planning for the critical national infrastructure.
* Supplier management - To manage the top-level relationship with strategic suppliers to the Government and to carry out supplier analysis (in partnership with OGC).

Notes and References

External links

* [http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/e-government/ Official Site]