A Content Analysis of Selected Government Web Sites: a Case Study of Nepal

Abstract

This study evaluated the ministerial Web sites of Government of Nepal to project the overall impression of government Web sites in Nepal. It was found that of the twenty ministries only seventeen ministries (85 percent) had dedicated Web sites and provided information and, in some cases, downloadable digital forms that could be filled in and submitted offline. However, the study focused on the content of the sites crucial for citizen‑government interaction. Since the Web content evaluation metrics are not completely exhaustive, this study based the Web analysis on four determinants ‑ transparency, interactivity, accessibility, and usability ‑ and evaluated all the ministerial Web sites. It was found that Web features that are critical in fostering government openness, government‑government communication, and citizen participation and satisfaction are still infrequent or completely absent in the ministerial Web sites. The study suggests that the government needs to cultivate standards for its Web site design exploit the benefits offered by information and communication technologies to promote good governance through electronic government. The government should also continuously evolve the site design techniques to meet citizens' expectations.