Task force to map e-gov path

Citizen-Centered E-Government: Developing the Action Plan

The Office of Management and Budget is asking agencies to help develop the road map toward President Bush's vision of e-government.

OMB Director Mitchell Daniels Jr. sent a memo to agency heads last week asking them to identify a "senior e-government leader" to be part of a new interagency task force led by Mark Forman, the new OMB associate director for information technology and e-government. The e-government leader must be someone who reports directly to the agency head.

"The task force will be successful only if it comprises individuals knowledgeable in their agency programs and experienced in government reform initiatives," Daniels wrote.

Starting later this month, the task force will work for five to six weeks to identify high-payoff e-government opportunities that will push agencies toward citizen-centered service.

The president's e-government agenda focuses on improving service in four categories:

* Individuals, through the development of one-stop Web portals.

* Businesses, by using the Internet for transactions and consolidating reporting requirements.

* Intergovernmental, through simplifying reporting of performance on grants programs.

* Internal, by using commercial best practices, such as knowledge management, to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The e-government work is going forward at the same time as the rest of the president's management agenda, which includes initiatives linking agencies' performance and budgets, and improving financial management.