e-Strategy and Profile of a City in View of Information Society Development
(Model Example)
Prague (Czech Republic)
Identification and contact
City	Prague	
State	Czech Republic (CR)	
Website	www.praha-mesto.cz	
Contact person 
(workplace, position, address, contact)	Jaroslav Šolc
Informatics Department, Prague City Council (INF MHMP)
Head of the Policy Department
Mariánské nám. 2, 110 01 Prague 
Tel.: +420 236002682, fax:+420 236007105
e-mail: jaroslav.solc@cityofprague.cz	
Date of drawing up	2. 2. 2004	
Basic profile of the city
Position in public administration 	1) Municipality – Capital of the Czech Republic, 1 of 20 statutory towns in the CR
2) Region – a higher municipal self-governing unit, 1 of 14 regions of the CR	
Population 	1.18 million 	
Area	496 km2	
Budget	31 billion CZK (1 billion EUR) – 2003 expenditure	
Organisation of city administration (city districts, elected bodies, authority, organisations)	1) Capital City of Prague (HMP) 
Elected bodies: Board of Representatives (70 members), Council (11 members) headed by the Lord Mayor  
Authority: Prague City Council (headed by the Director). 
Also organisations constituted by the city. 
2) City districts (MČ), a total of 57, of which 22 have a specific position for state administration execution in delegated operation (so-called administrative districts)
All of them have elected bodies (Board of Representatives, Council headed by the Mayor), city district authorities  (headed by the MČ Secretary) and constitute organisations
Note: Pursuant to the Act on the Capital City of Prague. Relations between the Capital City of Prague and city district authorities are regulated by the Statute of the Capital City of Prague. Representatives are elected for 4 years (2002 – 2006).	
Number of city employees
(of which the authority)	A total of approximately 40 thousand (administration, including city district authorities, education system, health-care and social services, transport, city police etc)
Prague City Council – approximately 2 thousand.	
Existence of basic documents for city development and administration (strategic plan, statement of policy, as of )
Note: Informatics hereinafter, Section C-2.	City of Prague Strategic Plan – drawn up by ÚRM, adopted by the Board of Representatives of HMP in 2000, contains a plan for the period up to 2020 and programmes up to 2006. Informatics in the chapter “City Management and Administration”. Monitoring report submitted annually. 
The present council adopted the statement of policy “Together for Prague“, also comprising goals pertaining to informatics (Chapter XII).	
Membership of national and international organisations (with wider focus, specific to IT, see Section C6)	Czech Republic: Union of Towns and Communities of the Czech Republic (ISMO Committee), Association of Regions of the CR (since 2003, Informatics Committee)
International: ICT: TeleCities (since 2001), Global Cities Dialogue (since 2000). Others: OWHC, CLARE, Metrex, Eurocities, Polis	
Data on information society development (LORIS topics)
1) Organisation of IT		
Municipal management and executive bodies as regards IT and e-Government issues	Prague City Council – Informatics Department. Informatics departments at city district authorities (mainly Prague 1 - 22). Informatics workplaces in HMP organisations (IMIP, ÚRM, DP, TSK, PIS etc). The informatics policy is set out by the Informatics Department of Prague City Council (according to the Statute of the Capital City of Prague). Platforms for information exchange: Board of District Information Scientists (2x a month, Prague 1), approximately 2- 4 x a year – meeting of the Capital City of Prague information scientists at Prague City Council.  Cooperation with the PR Department of Prague City Council (information services for the public). 	
Central IT workplace and its position in the authority  (department), number of employees, structure, main activities. IT workplaces in other departments (e.g., transport, land-use planning, environment, education etc)	The Informatics Department of Prague City Council (INF MHMP), included in the internal services section, has 64 employees. 
Structure: conceptual and analytical department (strategies, international and nationwide activities etc), application department (management and development of applications), data services department (basic registers, GIS), network department (administration of MePNet (city) and MagNet (Prague City Council) networks, final user support department (service of HW and basic SW), www department (technical administration and development of www), electronic signature department (preparation of implementation). 
ICT services in Prague City Council are centralised, apart from exceptions (crisis management, SURM) there are no autonomous IT workplaces in other departments.	
Who is responsible for e-Government development, general website management etc (IT+PR+?) 	The e-Government policy is being developed. INF MHMP ensures web services (Internet, Extranet, Intranet) in technical terms (the www department), the PR and other departments in content terms. The PR department operates the information centre of Prague City Council. The call centre project “Green Line” is under preparation. 	
Other municipal authorities and organisations with significant influence on IT (IT departments at city district authorities, “technical” organisation set up by the city)	Informatics departments at city district authorities, mainly Prague 1–22.
Digital maps: City Informatics Institute of the Capital City of Prague (IMIP, www.imip.cz)
Transport: ROPID (www.ropid.cz), City of Prague Transport Utility (www.dp-praha.cz), Institute of Transport Engineering of the Capital City of Prague (www.udi-praha.cz), Communications Technical Administration (TSK, www.tsk-praha.cz)
Information: Prague Information Service (www.pis.cz, culture, accommodation, tourism etc)
and other (energy sector, water management etc) 	
Major services purchased, possibly IT outsourcing 	Telecommunication and network services (Pragonet)
Application development (economic SW- Gordic, documents – Obis, Exprit etc, GIS – T-maps, Hydrosoft Veleslavín, administrative agendas – MP Orga etc) 	
Operating rule or other “rules” for use of IT by employees, system of employee training, knowledge testing (ECDL)	Operating rules of the Prague City Council network (decree of the MHMP Director).
Basic information on ICT use is part of the introductory employee training (a week-long adaptation course). The employee education offer includes fundamental courses (e.g., MS Office). Specialist training for users of specific applications (documentary service, TED – documents, accounting, editing system for www etc) is provided – in cooperation with the staff department.	

2) Strategy, security:		
Information strategy/policy (yes/no/drawn up, who drew it up, when etc) 	City of Prague Information Strategy.
Drawn up in 2001 by the Informatics Department of Prague City Council. RHMP took cognisance in VI/2001. It contains the analysis, goals, plan for a 4-6-year period. At the present time, it is being updated (linkage to eEurope 2005 and the ISVS attestation requirements in compliance with Czech legislation). Three major goals (+ partial goals) have been set: 
C1: Digital administration of the city; C2: Electronic communication with the public; C3: Prague at the head of the information community.
Also being drawn up: e-Government Development Policy (see hereinafter C-5)	
Security policy 
(yes/no/drawn up, who drew it up, when etc) 	IS Security Policy of Prague City Council.
Drawn up on the basis of the principles adopted by RHMP in 2002 (in compliance with the ISO 17799 standard and ISVS attestation requirements). It is drawn up by INF MHMP in cooperation with the company ITSC, T: draft VI/2004. At Prague City Council the training structure and system and documentation (one of the policy’s goals) pertaining to IS security is yet to be created.	
Audits, testing 	Economic audits of the Capital City of Prague in recent years (Delloite&Touche, 2002, 2003, before PWC) also included a partial IS and security audit. 
In 2003 an ISVS inspection record (Secunet) was carried out.	
3) Infrastructure:		
Existence of a metropolitan network 
(who is connected, technical characteristics, organisation of operation, connection to other networks, plans)	A metropolitan computer network built up by the company Pragonet (part of T-Systems, originally set up by the city). It also includes a non-public data network of the Capital City of Prague, MePNet, administered by INF MHMP. It interconnects almost 50 subjects of the city (Prague City Council, City District Authorities Prague 1-22, selected organisations and external subjects). Modern parameters for broadband multimedia transmission  (optical cables + radio transmission, 155 Mbps, TCP/IP Protocol). Another approximately 350 subjects of the city (schools, small city district authorities) are interconnected by means of telephone lines. Services – internal data transmission, e-mail, internet. Connection to GovNet (Ministry of Finance of the CR, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the CR). Plan for development of both the metropolitan network and MePNet , modernisation and extension of the network (city district authorities, schools, libraries).	
Equipment of authorities – LAN, connection to a metropolitan network or internet, share of employees equipped with PC + connected to network, with access to e-mail, Internet services etc)	Most city district authorities have their own internal LAN network (administered by informatics departments). Prague City Council has MagNet – interface of 33 buildings (mainly optical cables). Standard access from user PCs, remote mobile access for selected users (members of the Board of Representatives, executives of MHMP). Connected to MePNet.
All MHMP administrative staff are equipped with PCs connected to the network and have access to e-mail (their own boxes) and the internet (unlimited, monitored). 	

4) SW agendas and data:		
Solution to main agendas: internal (economy, property management, personnel administration, document administration, specialist self-governing agendas), external (web, state administration agendas), special systems (e.g., GIS), level of integration and use of web technologies	Systems of individual subjects (MHMP, ÚMČ) are created with a large degree of autonomy. MHMP lacks an integrated system. Various client-server applications (Oracle, Informix, SQL databases). Basic economic agendas are dealt with in the GINIS (from the company Gordic) system. SW Gordic is applied for all city district authorities. The documentary service is at MHMP (Gordic) and some ÚMČ, the citywide project, including electronic document administration (SO01 Exprit), is being implemented. Creation and registration of documents into RHMP and ZHMP (TED/Obis). Property management – at present, re-engineering is under preparation. State administration agendas – trades licensing offices, social benefits etc (ÚMČ Prague 1 – 22). 
Web (Internet/Extranet/Intranet) administered by the Publix editorial system, linkages to selected applications (documents etc) are solved. Map services: WebGIS Praha (T-Soft), the environment:  WebMap (Hydrosoft Veleslavín). 
Gradual integration and creation of applications in three-layer architecture, conversion to a portal solution.	
Creation, administration and use of basic registers and dials, level of integration, technologies	At the citywide level, basic data entities – digital maps, address register (ZUZI) etc – are administered.
Data from central registers (register of inhabitants  – Ministry of the Interior of the CR, land register  – Czech Geodesy and Land Register Office, register of economic subjects – Czech Statistical Office, nationwide address register – Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the CR. 	
Major linkages to surrounding public administration information systems
(upwards – state, region; 
downwards –city districts, organisations) 	Prague City Council fulfils the role of a regional authority, ensures some data linkages to central government bodies and (downwards) to city district authorities. For instance, state administration agendas: trades licensing offices, state social benefits, (newly) the wage information system etc. As regards self-governing agendas, primarily cohesion of financial agendas within the Capital City of Prague authorities is dealt with. 	
Use of open source SW
(status, plan)	No considerable introduction at MHMP is used or being planned for the near future.  	

5) e-Government, web, CRM and specific e-Services	
e-Government development policy 
(yes/no/drawn up, by whom, when etc)	Application of e-Government principles is declared in the RHMP statement of policy. Information services for the public are inherent in Goal 2 of the Capital City of Prague Information Strategy. The e-Government policy for the Capital City of Prague is being drawn up – terms, analysis, goals etc. (INF MHMP, T: IV/2004)	
Communication channels used for provision of services 
(web, call centres, information and contact centres, public access places, mobile communication etc)	The city website, Internet (MHMP and ÚMČ, and organisations – interconnected to a minimum extent).
Prague City Council’s information centre is part of the PR department (there are also centres at other city district authorities) – possible visits, information materials, telephones, web instructions, including provision of contact information.
Public access terminals (info-kiosks) are implemented on a minimal scale (PCs within information centres). 
Other services in the project plan (call centre). 	
Organisation of e-Government and web 
(management structure, who, what)	A central management  structure is not defined. Management of information for the public on websites (Internet) is carried out in cooperation with the PR department (appearance, main content, news) and INF (technical management, editorial system and its training). Intranet is managed in cooperation with the personnel department. Other departments participate in fulfilment. Fixing of rules and the management structure is one of the policy’s goals, including assurance of linkages to other information channels. 	
Address of the city’s website, interesting information services, participation in competitions and awards etc.	The city’s main website: www.praha-mesto.cz (English: www.prague-city.cz) 
Thematic servers, e.g., news: http://www.praha-noviny.cz/, web cameras: http://kamery.praha-mesto.cz, the environment: http://envis.praha-mesto.cz etc. City district authorities and organisations have their own websites.
The website www.praha-mesto.cz has been awarded prizes in the nationwide competitions Golden Crest 2002 and Eurocrest 2003. The atlas of the environment in Prague www.praha-mesto.cz/atlaszp has won prizes in the competition Geoapplication 1999 (competitions within the ISSS conference). Envis has been awarded a prize in an international competition (GRID/CEROI 2003). 	
Characteristics of the degree of existing e-Government services according to 4 categories (1 –information, 2 – one-way interaction, 3 –two-way interaction, 4 – transaction)	Mainly categories 1 (provision of information) and 2 (making out forms). Services for communication and discussion with the city’s representatives are being developed. 	
Target groups addressed and differentiated 	Partial solution – columns for the public, entrepreneurs, tourists. A portal solution is being planned.  	
Accessibility of e-services for citizens, equipment 
 (proportion of citizens with internet access, possessing mobile telephones, equipping of schools, public access places), accessibility for the disabled etc.	DEMA survey 2004, Prague: 52 % of Prague citizens uses Internet
CSO survey 2002, Czech Republic, equipment of households (4.1 mil. total):
phone  69.9 %, GSM 64,6 %, PC 24.6%, cable TV 25%, satellite 11.8%, notebook 3.1%. Connected to Internet 16,4 %. Numbers in Prague are expected higher. New numbers from 2003 survey are to be published in May 2004.
Development of “blind-friendly” parameters of the Capital City of Prague’s website is being planned (at the present, to the minimum extent).	
Assurance of feedback (use of  e-services in total and individually) 	Merely a partial solution for the web (number of accesses, email to the webmaster). Systematic approach of the current eGov conception.
Implementation of the regional round of the competition of websites and e-services of towns and municipalities Golden Crest 2004 (for the first time).	
Activities for civic society development and participation in the city’s administration (e-Democracy)	Making public development plans, decisions, budgets etc public on the website. Video broadcasts from sessions of the Board of Representatives of the City of Prague. Possible debate on selected topics. E-mail communication with political representatives. Public inquiries (for example, spectators’ inquiry on the Prague round of the Golden Crest competition). 	
Promotion of e-Learning	Only limited so far – for example, publication of educational programmes for Prague City Council employees and on-line registration. 	
Analysis of labour organisation and management processes and changes (Re-engineering).	Not taking place at MHMP, it is one of the goals of the e-Government policy. Activities at the Prague 1 city district authority (the Management of Management project).	
Introduction of electronic signatures, chip cards and other e-Security elements 	Has not been implemented to date (with the exception of single authorised certificates – testing).	

6) Cooperation, financing etc 	
Permanent IT cooperation with other networks  and professional organisations or other cities (at the national and international level)	CR: The ISMO National Committee (Union of Towns and Communities of the CR), including cooperation between statutory towns in the CR, the Informatics Committee of AK CR, cooperation with CAGI.
International cooperation: Activity in the TeleCities organisation (member of the management committee). Contacts with GCD, Major Cities of Europe.
Cooperation at international conferences in the CR (ISSS/LORIS, MIS/UDMS).	
Experience and involvement in joint projects (national and international), projects drawing support from EU funds (Structural Funds etc) 	Projects in the CR: MVČR/AKČR etc (ePUSA, KEVIS etc)
European projects: FP5/IST informatics projects pertaining to the environment (Interact, Heaven, preparation of other projects for FP6). 
Monitoring of possible use of Structural Funds for informatics development in the City of Prague (JPD2, JPD3, cooperation with the EU funds department of the Prague City Council, city district authorities etc).	
Priorities and plans for other activities	Modernisation of the city’s administration using ICT on the basis of a defined strategy. Infrastructure development. Integration deepening. Re-engineering of applications. Use of modern technologies (3-layer architecture). Security management. Implementation of the e-Government policy. Reinforcement of project management methods and resource management, documentation and information sharing. Strengthening of cooperation between the city’s subjects. Enhancement of cooperation with other cities in the CR and abroad, benchmarking etc.	
Experience and lessons learned	Necessity of a conceptual approach and cooperation. Necessity of determining priorities by the city’s management and authorities. Principles of resource management and project management. Securing several financial resources. The importance of enlightenment and education. The importance of promoting new services for citizens.  	
7) Specific projects 		
Any other interesting projects and activities that can serve as a model (best practises) for others	Creation of policies and cooperation with other cities. Creation of a metropolitan network. Introduction of electronic document management on a citywide scale. Creation and management of the city’s digital maps. Environment information system, including the environmental atlas on the website. Specific internet services – web cameras, video broadcasting. Mobile access to the authority’s network etc.