Introduction

In reference to e-Government Application Regulations issued pursuant to the Cabinet's resolution no (40) dated 27/2/1427H and what the general provisions of such regulations include in the clause no. (22) which states that each Government Entity should implement a biannual Score-Measurement of how much it achieved in the e-Government Transformation. Such a Measurement should be implemented in accordance with certain indicators and criteria defined by Yesser Program and to be included within the annual report of each Government Entity, and a copy of such a report is to be sent to Yesser Program.

As stated in clause no. 23, a general biannual report should be prepared by Yesser Program to be sent to the Royal Majesty, Pointing out how long Government Entities have achieved the e-Government Transformation in lines with the indicators referred to within above-mentioned clause no. (22), and pursuant to all regulations, laws and legislations relevant to the application of e-Transactions within all Government entities, and finally acting through the famous concept that says: "What Gets Measured, Gets Managed".

Accordingly, the Measurement first initiative was launched to evaluate the factual status of e-Government Transformation. This includes evaluation of the Government Entities internal e-Transactions and all initiatives and programs relevantly executed to support this mission. It included, in addition, evaluating distinctive projects adopted to help develop Government performance and ensure that services will be effectively and efficiently offered for citizens. Yesser Program has been in charge of periodically following up this Measurement in accordance with a specified methodology and a set of indicators derived from local and international distinctive experiments. It has also been responsible for preparing regular reports to be sent to Government Entities in addition to a general report to be sent to the Royal Majesty pursuant to relevant regulations.
As for the general aspects of the said Measurement, they come as follows:

Measurement Objectives:

With a comprehensive methodology based upon international best practices, basics were formulated to design a comprehensive framework for measuring the development of general work of the Program, taking into consideration the objectives behind this Measurement as follows:

• Providing decision-makers with expressly obvious and direct evaluations, enabling them to follow up development of work at relevant Government Entities. In this respect, such evaluations should include all aspects of work required to achieve the vision of implementing e-Transactions within the National Strategy and the First Executive Plan.
• Supporting the Program's motivating message towards e-Government Transformation as required.
• Availability of comparison using measurable Key Performance Indicators related to objectives of e-Government initiative in the kingdom.
• Covering all instructions included within regulations of e-Government application.

General Methodology of Measurement:

As Measurement of e-Government Transformation has still been considered an unprecedented step in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hypotheses were put in accordance with various studies executed by Yesser Program after evaluating the status of Government Entities through continuous communications to know their preparedness for e-Government Transformation. Such hypotheses led to formulation of a Measurement Methodology derived from the above mentioned objectives, yet keeping in mind the following principles:

• E-Government Transformation does not mean merely an absolute technological Transformation in itself, while technology here is a substantially included part. The most important principle of the total process is the acceptance of such a Transformation which has been more related to Ideology than to Technology.
• Specific characteristics of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding its geography, census, distribution of its regions and levels of education were taken into consideration.
• Government Entities have reached different stages of e-Government Transformation, however, a unified methodology should be formulated for all such entities deciding the point of launch, yet, keeping in mind status of both advanced and lagging entities.
• A Supportive methodology should necessarily be formulated for the application of the Program's executive plan and the National Plan for Communications And Information Technology.
• The Methodology should focus on a solid and reinforced base ensuring acceleration of the Transformation process and its execution for the welfare of citizen and community.
• The final objective of the Methodology should be focused on providing and developing integral and effective e-services for different types of stakeholders i.e.; another Government Entity, private sector, individuals sector including citizens, residents and visitors.
• The methodology should be factually applicable with a clear vision.

Consequently, Yesser Program has developed a general methodology to be executed through different stages of application where evaluation of e-Government Transformation is to be made. The following diagram indicates the general framework of implementation stages of e-Government upon which Measurement was based taking into consideration regulations of e-Government and relevant resolutions issued to support the e-Transformation Journey:

Diagram1: General Framework for stages of e-Government Implementation