Benchmarking Mexico & Brazil Open Government Websites: Model and Metrics

Rodrigo Sandoval-Almazan, Fabro Steibel

.
Facultad de Contaduría y Administración, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México; 2Programa de Pós- Gradua??o em Comunica??o, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil..

DOI: 10.4236/ajibm.2013.36A003                

Abstract

Latin American open government websites have not been compared or benchmarked. However, this is a key to assess and understand the open government impact on Latin American countries. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model to assess open government websites and to compare Mexican and Brazilian portals related on open government and transparency practices. The result shows different levels of innovations and similarities on the interpretation of open government budget portals. Our paper will be divided into five sections. The first section will be an introduction where we address our research question and summarize the Mexican and Brazilian context; the second section is a literature review about open government; the third section is a methodology section which proposes the research model and research design; the fourth section discusses the main findings and the last section presents some conclusions and future research.

Keywords

Open Government; e-Government; Benchmarking

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	R. A. Chapman and M. Hunt, “Open Government in a Theoretical and Practical Context,” Ashgate, Aldershot, Hants, England, Burlington, 2006.
[2]	J. C. Bertot, P. T. Jaeger and J. M. Grimes, “Crowd-Sourcing Transparency: ICTs, Social Media, and Government Transparency Initiatives,” Digital Government Society of North America, 2010.
[3]	J. C. Bertot, P. T. Jaeger and J. M. Grimes, “Promoting Transparency and Accountably through ICTs, Social Media, and Collaborative E-Government,” Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 2011.
[4]	T. Nam, “New Ends, New Means, but Old Attitudes: Citizens’ Views on Open Government and Government 2.0,” 44th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-44), Hawaii Manoa, 2011, pp. 1-10.
[5]	J. C. Bertot, P. McDermott and T. Smith, “Measurement of Open Government: Metrics and Process,” 45th Hawaii International Conference on System Science (HICSS), 2012, pp. 2491-2499.
[6]	F. Steibel and F. Betramelli, “Policy, Research and Online Public Consultations in Brazil and Uruguay,” In: B. Girard and A. Lara, Eds., Impact 2.0: New Mechanism for Linking Research and Policy, Fundación Comunica, Montevideo, 2012, pp. 87-126.
[7]	I. A. Elbadawi, “The State of Open Government Data in GCC Countries,” 12th European Conference on eGovernment (ECEG 2012), Barcelona, 2012, pp. 193-200.
[8]	B. Ngwenya, S. Lubbe and R. Klopper, “Institutionalisation, Framing, and Diffusion: The Logic of Openness in eGovernment and Implementation Decisions (a Lesson for Developing Countries),” Proceedings of ICEG 2010: The 6th International Conference on e-Government, Cape Town, 2010, pp. 74-81.
[9]	J. C. Bertot, P. T. Jaeger and D. Hansen, “The Impact of Polices on Government Social Media Usage: Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2012, pp. 30-40.
[10]	A. Hoffman, “La Transparencia y la Opacidad de los Gobiernos en México: Un Corte de Caja,” Politica Digital, 2010.
[11]	S. Lopez Ayllon, “Medir la Transparencia: Un Imperativo,” Politica Digital, Vol. 26, 2005, pp. 24-30.
[12]	S. Lopez Ayllon, “La Opacidad de la Transparencia,” Politica Digital, No. 65, 2011, pp. 24-27.
[13]	R. Sandoval-Almazan, “Midiendo la Transparencia en Internet: Ranking de las Páginas Web de los Institutos de Transparencia en Mexico,” In: C. Herrera, G. Lizama and L. Morales, Eds., Federalismo Y transparencia en Mexico: Seis Estudios de Caso, 1st Edition, Vol. 1, Alianza Civica-COmunidad Europea, Ciudad de Mexico, 2009, pp. 219-247.
[14]	R. Sandoval-Almazan, “Open Government in Mexico. An Assessment Preview 2007-2010,” Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government, Vol. 1, Danube University, Krems, 2012, pp. 255-266.
[15]	G. Cejudo, S. Lopez Ayllon and A. Cazarez, “Diganóstico de la Transparencia en México: lecciones de la Metrica de Transparencia 2010,” Revista Mexicana de Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales, 2011, pp. 58-81.
[16]	R. Sandoval-Almazan, “Ranking de Portales de Transparencia: La medición 2010,” Política Digital, 2010, pp. 30-37.
[17]	C. Ali, “e-gov.br: A Próxima Revolucao Brasileira: Eficie ncia, Qualidade e Democracia: O Governo Eletronico no Brasil e no Mundo,” 1st Edition, Vol. 1, Pearson Prentice Hall, Sao Paulo, 2004.
[18]	J. A. G. de Pinho, “Investigando Portais de Governo Eletronico de Estados no Brasil: Muita Tecnologia, Pouca Democracia,” Revista de Administracao Pública, Vol. 42, No. 3, 2008, pp. 471-493.
[19]	R. Sampaio, “Governanca Eletronica no Brasil: Limites e Possibilidades Introduzidos pelo Orcamento Participativo na Internet,” Planejamento e Políticas Públicas, Vol. 33, 2009, pp. 124-143.
[20]	C. Guilherme and N. Solano, “Acesso à Informaaco e Controle Social das Políticas Públicas,” Agencia de Notícias dos Direitos da Infancia, Vol. 1, 2009, p. 127.
[21]	C. V. José, M. R. Manuella and M. Ricardo, “Dados Governamentais Abertos e seus Impactos Sobre os Conceitos e Práticas de Transparencia no Brasil,” Democracia e Interfaces Digitais para a Participacao Pública, Vol. 9, 2010.
[22]	D. Silva, “Transparencia na Esfera Pública Interconectada e Dados Governamentais Abertos,” In: S. Silveira, Ed., Cidadania e Redes Digitais, Comite Gestor Da internet no Brasil, Sao Paolo, 2010, pp. 11-135.
[23]	D. Rothberg and L. Maine, “Avaliacao de Informacoes Sobre Políticas de Saúde em Portais,” Revista Brasileira de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Sociedade, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2011, pp. 226-238.
[24]	W. Parks, “The Open Government Principle: Applying the Right to Know under the Constitution,” The George Washington Law Review, Vol. 26, No. 1, 1957, pp. 1-22.
[25]	L. W. Beer, “Freedom of Information and the Evidentiary Use of Film in Japan: Law and Sociopolitics in an East Asian Democracy,” The American Political Science Review, Vol. 65, No. 4, 1971, p. 1119.
[26]	H. C. Relyea, “The Provision of Government Information: the Federal Freedom of Information Act Experience,” Canadian Public Administration, Vol. 20, No. 2, 1977, pp. 317-341.
[27]	D. A. Drachsler, “Freedom of Information Act and the Right of Non-Disclosure,” The Administrative Law Review, Vol. 28, 1976, p. 1.
[28]	R. A. Morris, B. D. Sales and J. J. Berman, “Research and the Freedom of Information Act,” American Psychologist, Vol. 36, No. 8, 1981, pp. 819-826.
[29]	H. Bertil Wennergren, “Freedom of Information in Nordic Countries: Recent Developments,” Government Publications Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1983, pp. 11-17.
[30]	Y. Okudaira, “Toward Freedom of Information: The Japanese Case,” Government Publications Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1983, pp. 71-79.
[31]	C. Bennett, “From the Dark to the Light: The Open Government Debate in Britain,” Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1985, pp. 187-213.
[32]	A. Hubbertz, “Freedom of information and Canadian Crown Corporation,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1986, pp. 63-71.
[33]	A. Hubbertz, “Crown Copyright and Privatization of Government Information in Canada, with Comparisons to the United States Experience,” Government Publications Review, Vol. 17, No. 2, 1990, pp. 159-165.
[34]	H. C. Relyea, “Access to Government Information in the Information Age,” Public Administration Review, Vol. 46, No. 6, 1986, p. 635.
[35]	P. Birkinshaw, “Freedom of Information,” Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 50, No. 1, 1997, pp. 166-181.
[36]	A. S. Roberts, “Less Government, More Secrecy: Reinvention and the Weakening of Freedom of Information Law,” Public Administration Review, Vol. 60, No. 4, 2000, pp. 308-320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0033-3352.00093
[37]	A. S. Roberts, “Spin Control and Freedom of Information: Lessons for the United Kingdom from Canada,” Public Administration, Vol. 83, No. 1, 2005, pp. 1-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0033-3298.2005.00435.x
[38]	J. A. Shuler, “Citizen-Centered Government: Information Policy Possibilities for the 108th Congress,” Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2003, pp. 107-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0099-1333(02)00426-3
[39]	J. A. Taylor, A. M. B. Lips and J. Organ, “Freedom with Information: Electronic Government, Information Intensity and Challenges to Citizenship,” In: R. Chapman and M. Hun, Eds., Freedom of Information: Perspectives on Open Government in a Theoretical and Practical Context, Ashgate, Aldershot, 2006, pp. 125-138.
[40]	K. E. Uhl, “The Freedom of Information Act Post-9/11: Balancing the Public’s Right to Know, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Homeland Security,” American University Law Review, Vol. 53, No. 1, 2003, pp. 261-311.
[41]	Obama, “Transparency and Open Governmen | The White House,” 21-ene-2009.
[42]	V. Gordon, “National Security Directive Declassification, ” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2010, pp. 322-328. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.02.007
[43]	P. McDermott, “Building Open Government,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2010, pp. 401-413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.07.002
[44]	J. C. Bertot, P. T. Jaeger and J. M. Grimes, “Using ICTs to Create a Culture of Transparency: E-Government and Social Media as Openness and AntiCorruption Tools for Societies,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2010, pp. 264-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.03.001
[45]	S. S. Dawes, “Stewardship and Usefulness: Policy Principles for Information-Based Transparency,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2010, pp. 377-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.07.001
[46]	B. S. Noveck, “Wiki Government: How Technology Can Make Government Better, Democracy Stronger, and Citizens More Powerful,” Brookings Institution Press, Washington DC, 2009.
[47]	S. Picazo-Vela, I. Gutierrez-Martinez and L. F. Luna-Reyes, “Understanding Risks, Benefits, and Strategic Alternatives of Social Media Applications in the Public Sector,” Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 4, 2012, pp. 504-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2012.07.002
[48]	M. McLuhan and E. McLuhan, “Laws of Media: The New Science,” University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division, Toronto, 1992.
[49]	T. L. Friedman, “The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” 1st Edition, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2005.
[50]	D. Tapscott and A. D. Williams, “Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything,” Portfolio, New York, 2006.
[51]	D. West, B. S. Noveck and C. Sirianni, “Innovation in Government: How to Make the Public Sector Faster, Smarter and More Connected,” Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., 2009.
[52]	C. Geiger and J. von Lucke, “Open Government Data: Free Accessible Data of the Public Sector,” Proceedings of the International Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government, Danube University, Krems, 2011, pp. 265-278.
[53]	Open Government Working Group, “8 Principles of Open Government Data—OpenGovData.org,” 8 Principles of Open Government Data, 2007.
[54]	W. Dutton, G. A. Guerra, D. J. Zizzo and M. Peltu, “The Cyber Trust Tension in E-Government: Balancing Identity, Privacy, Security,” Information Polity: The International Journal of Government & Democracy in the Information Age, Vol. 10, No. 1-2, 2005, pp. 13-24.
[55]	W. H. Dutton, “The Fifth Estate Emerging through the Network of Networks,” Prometheus, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2009, pp. 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08109020802657453
[56]	M. Castells, “Comunicación y Poder,” Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 2009.
[57]	W. W. Powell and P. J. DiMaggio, “The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis,” 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1991.
[58]	K. Senge, “The ‘New Institutionalism’ in Organization Theory: Bringing Society and Culture Back In,” The American Sociologist, Vol. 44, No. 1, 2013, pp. 76-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12108-012-9170-5
[59]	W. Orlikowski, “Using Technology and Constituting Structures: A Practice Lens for Studying Technology in Organizations,” Organization Science, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2000, pp. 404-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.11.4.404.14600