The Three Ring Model and Development of an Instrument for Measuring Dimensions of E-Government Functions

An increasing number of government organizations are embracing electronic government (e-government) as an innovative and inevitable form of public service and administration. Numerous functions and potential benefits of e-government have been recognized. However, there is no conceptual model or practical framework in which disparate e-government functions can be studied and managed in an intelligent and systematic way. This study analyzes the data collected from a municipal government to confirm an e-government framework adapted from the Three Ring Model of the Internet functions. The results of the study empirically validate three categories of e-government functions – Informational, Transactional and Operational. The study provides e-government researchers and practitioners an intuitive and effective tool to study and manage the ever-increasing and ever-changing e-government applications.