A Comparative Study of e-Participation Effectiveness Evaluation Approaches

E-participation is becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of mutually beneficial relations between the state and society. In order to meet the needs of both sides, this development must be accurately measured and effectively controlled and for this we need to select and apply the most appropriate metrics and methods for measuring e-participation results, impacts and created values. This paper presents the results of the comparison of techniques currently used to assess different aspects of e-participation performance and impacts. The paper also proposes a new method of assessment and suggests a way to select the proper e-participation assessment methodology. The authors applied T.Paronson's AGIL paradigm to identifying the social functions and values that are prerequisites for any society to be able to persist and evolve over time. The research results show that the majority of approaches were focused on technology and policy frameworks existence and use, as well as on different interpretations of social impacts. This study revealed the lack of economic impacts interpretation and measurement tools for decision-making evaluation. The authors detected the necessity of additional indicators needed to measure the e-participation progress and prepare recommendations for its' sustainable development. Proposed conclusions can be useful for selecting the most appropriate e-participation assessment methodology and detection of measures missing to obtain a rigorous assessment in the specific country context.