Responsibility in acquiring critical eGovernment systems: whose fault is failure?

Abstract

In this paper we aim to show that a responsible party for acquiring critical governmental information systems should be nominated and that the expected consequences must be analysed before the project is started. This is to prevent loss of human life, to enhance well-being, tosecure  a  democratic  process  and  civil  rights  and  to  save  resources.  Our  approach  is  to  increase  public  participation  as  well  as  the  participation  of  different  interest  groups  derived from the critical governmental information system development on enhancing these systems. We use Habermasian discourse to  enhance the process of procuring, developing and implementing these systems and apply it to the idea of responsibility towards the society.