E-Commerce and E-Government: GFOA's Second Annual Emerging Technologies Satellite Teleconference.

• Position: Government Finance Officers Association - Brief Article

On March 10, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) will host a videoconference on e-commerce and e-government. Broadly defined, e-government is the process of electronically interacting with citizens, and it can range from posting information to paying taxes to auctioning property.

Electronic solutions are leveling the playing field for governments. The Internet enables small governments to tap into resources that may previously have been held for bigger governments, such as the "best prices" on procurement items. For larger municipalities, e-government means that service delivery is more convenient for constituents. The ability to e-mail a form or application at any time of day makes the daunting bureaucracy of City Hall suddenly seem navigable.

E-solutions are streamlining and transforming traditional processes at all levels of the government organization. Public finance officers are constantly presented with new electronic and technological means to improve the delivery of service and the management of information. The coupling of improved service and reduced costs, both in dramatic and measurable terms, is a dream come true for local governments. However, by misusing information technology, or not using up-to-date technology, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare.

To address these concerns, GFOA's teleconference will take the mystery out of e-government. The teleconference is designed to educate members on the types of e-government applications available, and how those applications can best be utilized to serve constituents. The conference will feature a panel of industry experts (both from the high-tech field and from governments) discussing up-to-the minute trends in electronic commerce and government. Presenters will discuss what is currently happening in e-government, and also will highlight what governments can expect in the days and months ahead, including the next "must have" trends. Topics scheduled for discussion include:

* the Web and citizen service delivery model;

* e-procurement;

* managing e-risks, including security and data integrity;

* constituent management services; and,

* political ramifications of e-government.

The teleconference is designed for governments who utilize the Web to serve customers--both in terms of government finance (on-line tax payment, bond auctions, etc.) and government services in general (information dissemination, online comments and...