Definitions of e-government range from the use of information technology to free movement of information to overcome the physical bounds of traditional paper and physical based systems to the use of technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees. The common theme behind these definitions is that e-government involves the automation or computerization of existing paper based procedures that will prompt new styles of leadership, new ways of debating and deciding strategies, new ways of transacting business, new ways of listening to citizens and communities, and new ways of organizing and delivering information.

Ultimately, e-government aims to enhance access to and delivery of govenment services to benefit citizens. More important, it aims to help strengthen governments drive toward effective governance and increased transparency to better manage a countrys social and economic resources for development.

(source: UNDP-APDIP)