Developing a shared policy workspace

32 Some of the advantages to the adoption of electronic methods of working in the Public Service include:

• enabling greater accessibility to information, research and dialogue;

• fast, efficient means of communication and the transmission of ideas and options;

• improving the quality of advice through a wider range of inputs;

• utilisation of technical capability and capacity of the new 'e' enabled technologies; and

• facilitating efficient changes to work practices.

33 The elements of information-gathering, exchange, analysis, discussion and exploration of options, and the formulation of conclusions and recommendations, make the craft of policy development a prime candidate for shared workspace. While e-mail systems are the most common means of electronic interaction these are severely limited as a tool for sharing large amounts of information, and as a means of actively engaging people in critical thinking and/ or processing information.

34 What is required is a conceptual framework that allows us to understand more fully what is included in a consideration of 'intra-government ' (i.e. interaction between government agencies), and what the boundaries are with wider e-government processes, including citizen access to government. The diagram on the following page describes the thinking of the project team to date on the boundaries of intra-government activities, and the relationship with other e-government services, and is a starting point for further discussion.

35 In the diagram, we have identified the key functions government agencies may perform electronically (either partially or fully). This includes service delivery and commercial transactions, for example. Each function may involve different activities depending on whether government agencies are interacting with each other, or with citizens (including business interests). Examples of this are provided. At this time, the project team sees the organisation of Public Service information and knowledge as an intra-government activity.