International Technical Standards for e-Government

International Technical Standards for e-Government

John Borras, e-Government Unit, Cabinet Office, London, UK

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 2000)

A technical committee has been established within the OASIS organisation to agree standards for e-Government initiatives. The purpose of the e-Government TC is to: provide a forum for governments internationally to voice their needs and requirements with respect to XML-based standards which can be handed off to relevant OASIS TCs (if they exist); provide a mechanism for the creation of best practice documents relative to the adoption of OASIS specs/standards within Governments internationally; promote the adoption of OASIS specs/standards within Governments which could include the creation of implementation-oriented pilot projects to involve software vendors and participating government agencies to demonstrate the use of OASIS specs/standards; work with other OASIS channels (e.g. XML.org for schema registry and/or information portal); and act as a clearinghouse of information related to applicable specs/standards as well as activities and projects being conducted by Governments in the adoption of XML-based systems and standards. The committee will deliver the following: co-ordinated input from governments to the development of emerging standards, e.g. ebMXL, Web Services, to ensure the standards are not just developed for the benefit of the private sector; the identification of new standards required to support e-Government and plans for development organized; the channel and process for Governments to press for all relevant bodies to co-ordinate their activities; and co-ordinated input from EU countries to deliver aspects of the eEurope 2005 plan. The committee has a number of projects underway and some will have been finalised by the date of the conference. A report on these and other activities will be provided.