1 What is the e-GIF?

The E-government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) is a set of policies, technical standards, and guidelines. It covers ways to achieve interoperability of public sector data and information resources, information and communications technology (ICT), and electronic business processes. It enables any agency to join its information, ICT or processes with those of any other agency using a predetermined framework based on "open" (i.e. non-proprietary) international standards.

While a universally agreed definition of "open standards" is unlikely to be resolved in the near future, the e-GIF accepts that a definition of “open standards” needs to recognise a continuum that ranges from closed to open, and encompasses varying degrees of "openness". To guide readers in this respect, the e-GIF endorses "open standards" that exhibit the following properties:

• Be accessible to everyone free of charge: no discrimination between users, and no payment or other considerations should be required as a condition to use the standard.
• Remain accessible to everyone free of charge: owners should renounce their options, if any, to limit access to the standard at a later date.
• Be documented in all its details: all aspects of the standard should be transparent and documented, and both access to and use of the documentation should be free.

The e-GIF performs the same function in e-government as the Road Code does on the highways. Driving would be excessively costly, inefficient, and ineffective if road rules had to be agreed each time one vehicle encountered another.

1.1 What is e-government?

E-government is about government agencies working together to use technology so they can better provide individuals and businesses with government services and information. It is not a massive ICT project. Much of it is about establishing common standards across government, delivering services more effectively, and providing ways for agencies to work together using technology.

E-government presents New Zealand with some tremendous opportunities to develop higher quality, cost-effective, government services and a better relationship between New Zealanders and their government.

For the latest version of the New Zealand E-government Strategy, see
http://www.e.govt.nz/about-egovt/strategy/nov-2006/

1.2 What is interoperability?

The December 2001 New Zealand E-government Strategy defines interoperability as "the ability of government organisations to share information and integrate information and business processes by use of common standards".

The June 2003 E-government Strategy Update underscores this point: "Common data and information technology policies and standards underpin the service delivery architecture and are integral to the E-government Strategy."

The November 2006 E-government Strategy Update “confirms the key role of collaboration, standards and interoperability, and an enterprise architecture for government in achieving the Strategy's goals." It defines Building Standards and Interoperability as “Government adopting and using common standards to ensure agencies and their partners can work together, and users can access government services and information".

From a technical standpoint, interoperability is achieved when the coherent, electronic exchange of information and services between systems takes place.

For e-government in New Zealand, interoperability relates specifically to the electronic systems that support business processes between:

• agencies
• government and people
• government and business.

This does not mean a central agency is simply dictating common systems and processes. Interoperability can be achieved by applying a framework of policies, standards and guidelines that leave decisions about specific hardware and software solutions open for individual agencies, or clusters of agencies, to resolve.

This document sets out this framework.

1.3 What will the e-GIF accomplish?

Using the e-GIF will:

• help government agencies to work more easily together electronically
• make systems, knowledge and experience reusable from one agency to another
• reduce the effort needed to deal with government online by encouraging consistency of approach
• reduce the reliance on tapes and disks to exchange data, as these carry their own security issues and are not scaleable for the level of interoperability many services will need in future.

1.3.1 Practical example: Consolidating customer resources

Adhering to the e-GIF becomes critical when two or more agencies work together to deliver a service online. Agencies in this situation are encouraged to look at services from a "customer" perspective.

A hypothetical example is opening a café or restaurant. At present, this involves interactions with a number of agencies:

• The Companies Office and Inland Revenue which provide a shared service for people wanting to start a business. As people incorporate their company, they are able to apply for an IRD tax number. By entering information into the "IRD Details" screen during the online company incorporation process, their application will be sent via an automated link to Inland Revenue. (Until recently new companies had to deal with the Companies Office and Inland Revenue separately).
• Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for accident forms, hazardous substances policy, etc.
• Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) for levy forms and workplace safety policy, etc.
• The local council for signage, a certificate of food hygiene, etc.

At present, most of this information is available online, but only by visiting each agency's website for its respective services.

Consider this example in an interoperable future: all services for opening a café or restaurant, delivered by multiple agencies, available through a single website: http://www.openingmycaferestaurant.govt.nz . The applicant would enter relevant details, then the agencies would exchange relevant information among themselves and the applicant to supply all the required services.

This is the kind of interoperability envisaged in the next phase of e-government. To achieve such interoperability, the agencies need an enduring, agreed set of standards for exchanging data between all parties. The e-GIF sets out these standards.

(See also Section 3.2 Aims of the e-GIF.)

1.4 Managing the e-GIF

1.4.1 Stewardship

The following people manage the e-GIF:

• The State Services Commissioner is the Steward of the e-GIF, with accountability and corresponding decision-making authority for its ongoing development and management.
• The Information and Communication Technologies Branch (ICT Branch)[The Information and Communication Technologies Branch (ICT Branch) of the State Services Commission, was formed from the E-government unit on 1 July 2005.] of the State Services Commission is the Custodian, with responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the e-GIF under the oversight of the e-GIF Management Committee.
• The e-GIF Management Committee is made up of public servants from the senior ranks of agencies adopting the e-GIF. The Committee acts for the State Services Commissioner to ensure:
• • the value of the e-GIF as a "collective asset" that supports the future capability and performance of both individual agencies and the public sector as a whole, and one that is maintained and enhanced across time
  • the benefits of the e-GIF (increased agency and public sector capability, performance, efficiency and effectiveness) outweigh its costs (decreased agency-level autonomy, administration costs, etc.).
  
  
• Working Groups are established to regularly review the technical aspects of the e-GIF.
• All agencies that are required to adopt the e-GIF may take part in its governance and appeal decisions made by the Steward and Management Committee.

1.4.2 Who to contact

You can contact the Custodian at e-gif@ssc.govt.nz.