August 23, 2007 National and local governments across the globe have been implementing new strategies based on e-governance in order to modernize public services. South Korea has been a leader in this field along with neighboring Asian nations. It is only fitting then, that a new book claiming to be an authoritative text on the subject has originated from Japan.

E-Governance from IOS Press is a practical resource that presents how both developed and developing countries have designed and implemented e-government strategies. The book’s editor Professor Toshio Obi said that e-governance “is regarded as one of the most important dimensions in the Information Society. Global e-Governance for both public and private sectors is becoming extremely significant in an innovative and seamless world community.”

The new book, retailing for US$130, features case studies from across the globe including: Japan’s information technology strategy; implementation of electronic government concepts in Russia; strategy for local e-government in Japan; an assessment of municipal web sites throughout the world; new generation networks in broadband; international strategy for disaster reduction; smart cards; and the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO).

E-Government initiatives to reform public services cover a wide spectrum of social infrastructure including health, education, energy, foreign affairs, interior, finance, natural resources, foreign investment, transportation, militaryhttp://www.gizmag.com/go/4747/, tourism, and telecommunications. Even the humble parking meter has been subjected to technological reform in an effort to improve efficiency and fairness to local parking laws. So far 100 countries have adopted e-government programs and will continue to improve services to citizenry through new technologies.