Abstract

Essence of Information System
An information system can be defined as a set of procedures that collect, process, store and disseminate the relevant information data for operational control, management control and decision making functions in an organization. The information system makes use of resources such as hardware, software, personal, procedures as well as supplies. The information system is meant for supplying and not generating, the information to various managers involved in Operational Control, Management Control and the Decision Making Processes. Decision making is an essential part of management.

The model proposed by Herbert A. Simon is a conceptual framework that divides the decision making processes into three stages of phases: Intelligence Activities; Design Facilities and Choice Implementation. The following four questions will end the process and judge the failure or success of the decision taken. They are 1) Is there a problem? 2) What are the alternatives? 3) Which one should you choose? And 4) Is the choice workable?

Extensive research has been done on the development of an Information System for industrial productions, construction or project management, business firms etc. However it falls short of the field of in city or urban management and specifically the field of urban services managed and provided by the local bodies.

Creating an information system requires funds, dedication and up to date data base, all of which are scares in our local bodies. But with ever expanding urban area the concept has gained significance. With the advent of computers on a larger scale in India has given it a push in the right direction. Urban service delivery, urban infrastructure and urban administration are important areas for developing an Urban Information System, amongst the other areas like Land Management Information System, for Land use Information System, Topographical Information System, etc.

Municipal Governance:
“Governance refers to the relationship between civil society and the state, administration between those who rule and those who are ruled, the government and the governed’. (Mc Carney, Halfani, and Rodriguez 1998:119). It is also understood as referring to “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of the economic and social resources for development” (World Bank, quoted by McCarney 1996:13). Good Municipal Governance depends on the representative quality and efficiency of local government.

Last decade has witnessed special focus on good governance. This is particularly evident among developing countries, which are experiencing a rapid pace of urbanization along with increasing mismatch between demand and supply of municipal services. National policies on productivity, environment and community health, quality of life, equity and poverty alleviation have emphasized a direct link between them and adequacy of municipal services. The increasing complexity of facing local government has prompted many city managers in the region to discover creative and innovative solutions with varying degrees of success.

Municipal E-Governance:
Through information technology, the system is being reengineered to transform into government services based on paperless electronic mail for simple transactions and for more complex transactions provision of fully interactive on-line services, which would give public access to government services which quicker responses. The service which includes providing information, collecting taxes, granting licenses, administrating regulations, paying grants and benefits, collecting and analyzing statistics and procuring goods and services. This is known as municipal E-Governance.

In the municipal administration E-Governance can contribute to improved productivity and streamlining of internal government administration by helping to remove paper work from the process or by facilitating coordination and consolidation of information.

Ahmedabad city has established computerized Civic Centers at variousdecentralized places. Here the citizens have direct access to all the information they require. For example, permission to construct a building on a plot, a payment to be made on a property owned, a complaint has to be redressed for water or sanitation problem an individual property owner faces, or for any other related issues now a citizen can address either by using an internet, a kiosk or a Civic Centre facilities.