PERRI 6 is a leading political scientist working on public policy and the policy process. Now a Senior Research Fellow in the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham, he was previously at King's College London, Strathclyde University and the think tank Demos. His jointly written book, Towards Holistic Governance, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2002.

'This is a path-breaking work on the actual and potential use of electronic tools in public sector decision making. It combines fascinating case studies on leading edge applications with a thought-provoking model of institutional styles of policy making, and challenges us to imagine how the various players in the model would incorporate these electronic tools into their work. It should be required reading for anyone concerned with the future of e-governance.' - Sandford Borins, Professor of Public Management, University of Toronto 'Governments everywhere are pushing the boundaries of technology. In this important new analysis, Perri 6 carefully charts the rise of this movement in political terms and its use in shaping the judgments of policy makers. He provides strong and persuasive arguments on a central puzzle of the information age: if and how it can strengthen governance. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the effects of modern technology on government.' - Donald F. Kettl, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

• Acknowledgements Introduction The Scope of E-Governance Examples and Initiatives The Forward March of E-Governance Halted? What Difference Could E-Governance Make? Fears, Aspirations and Theories Conducting Policy Judgement Through Information Technologies: Three Cases Policy Making: The Work of Governance The Organization of Policy Makers and the Use of E-Governance Tools Institutional Styles and E-Governance Tools Ways Forward Conclusion Notes References