World Applied Sciences Journal 6 (9): 1170-1176, 2009 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2009 Corresponding Author: Mrs. Fatemeh Saghafi, Department of Industrial Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran E-mail: saghafi@iust.ac.ir 1170 E-Government Foresight in Developing Countries F. Saghafi, B. Zarei, A. Aliahmadi and M. Fathian 1 2 1 1 Department of Industrial Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran 1 Department of Entrepreneurship, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran 2 Abstract: Ever-increasing development of information technology has affected many aspects of the individual, social and organizational life. This enforces many countries to develop and adapt comprehensive plans to manage this relatively new phenomenon. Highly adoptable e-government policies and protocols are required nationally, where traditional e-government plans are failed to address the citizens' requirements. In This study current e-government activities in developing countries discussed and highlighted available foresight methodologies. The main components of the e-government foresight are identified using meta-synthesis methodology. Finally, a new framework is developed for the e-government foresight in developing counties. This framework has a systematic approach to foresight in contextual and interaction areas with 3 main processes: pre foresight, foresight and post foresight. It should be considered that the main processes are cyclic. This issue is ignored in other frameworks. Key words: E-government Foresight Framework Information society Integration Gap analysis INTRODUCTION ICT infrastructure such as telecommunication The item No. 13 of Tunis Commitment in Policy issues such as legislation. Information Society [1] says: "We also recognize that Human capital development such as skills and the ICT revolution can have a tremendous positive capabilities. impact as an instrument of sustainable development. Change management such as culture, resistance to In addition, an appropriate enabling environment at change. national and international levels could prevent increasing Partnership and collaboration such as public/private social and economic division and the widening of the partnership. gap between rich and poor countries, regions and Leadership role such as motivate, involve. individuals–including between men and women". Strategy. This and many similar arguments have motivated knowledge-based development in developing countries Misra [4] has overviewed the e-government scenarios [2-3]. for year 2006 and has recognized ten emerging Information and communication technologies e-government challenges for policy makers in strategy (ICTs) have the potential to justify service delivery formulation and implementation. He concludes that the failures in traditional governments. ICTs created a future of e-government may be quite sobering after the networked structure for quality delivery of services, initial hype surrounding it settles down [5]. efficiency and effectiveness, decentralization, In the following sections foresight, foresight transparency and accountability. E-government has frameworks, international experiences about e-government emerged as a popular catch phrase in public foresight and the need for e-government foresight in administration to cover all of those functions [4]. developing countries are reviewed. Then major foresight Ndou has studied e-government development and components which typically are used in different implementation in developing countries and specified frameworks are analyzed. Based on these components and seven challenges including [3]: the challenges of developing countries a new framework equipment.