Is COCOMO and Putnam relevant to e-Government? Software development efforts estimation in e-Government in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-11-2021-0147 |
| Published date | 23 March 2023 |
| Date | 23 March 2023 |
| Pages | 267-287 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy |
| Author | Sundar Balakrishna |
Is COCOMO and Putnam relevant to
e-Government? Software development
efforts estimation in e-Government in the
Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Sundar Balakrishna
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aimsto examine the process for estimation of efforts for softwaredevelopment and
suggests a framework for estimating software development costs and ensuring quality of code in
e-Government projects from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With no established processes for
estimationof efforts, the Government relied on openbids from the market to develop these e-Government
applications.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper adopts an exploratory case study approach to analyze
the e-Government applications in Andhra Pradesh. Using data from the information technology
department of the Governmentof Andhra Pradesh, the paper evolves a framework to computecosts of
softwaredevelopment, based on the software developmentlife cycle.
Findings –The framework helps in arriving at a hurdle pricebefore the tender process. The study has
shown thatan e-Governmentapplication in AP state would cost Rs. 224,000,or US$2,969.25,for a simple
application, and Rs. 33,60,000, or US$44,538.71, for a complex application over a five-year period,
depending on the complexity and size of the application. This information would be useful to the
Governmentdecision-makers for expanding e-Government.
Research limitations/implications –Further research may assess the utility of this framework for
e-Government support activities like automation of data centers, video conferencing facilities and
usheringin financial technologies for encouragingcashless payments.
Originality/value –The paper provides information thatcould be of value at a national level (for India)
and at thesame time providing a guide for other countriesthat would like to adopt this framework.
Keywords India, e-Government, Software development efforts estimation
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Electronics Government, or e-Government, is defined as the use of information technology
(IT) and other encompassing technologies (like the internet, mobile computing and tablet
devices) by the public sector agencies to delivergovernment services to citizens efficiently,
empower citizens by enabling access to information and impart efficiency to government
processes. Such transformative use of IT by the government agencies may reduce
corruption, increase transparency through the creation of open data portals, reduce costs
and improve revenue inflows to the government(Bovaird, 2005).
1.1 e-Government and open government
Lnenicka and Nikiforova (2021) argue that IT enables transparency-by-design of
e-Government and open government through the creation of the “Open Government Data”
Sundar Balakrishna studied
in the Department of
Economics, Indian Institute
of Management
Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad,
India.
Received 4 November 2021
Revised 29 November 2022
18 January 2023
4 February 2023
Accepted 5 February 2023
DOI 10.1108/DPRG-11-2021-0147 VOL. 25 NO. 3 2023, pp. 267-287, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jPAGE 267
(OGD), which connects data users and data providers, generates trust in public officials,
enables wider public control over resource allocation and encourages reuse of public
sector information and data sets. Wirtz and Birkmeyer (2015) define open government as a
political and social process which involves transparent and participatory actions by the
government and administration to achieve the goal of developing a computerized system
to disclose government data to the public. Thus, the goals of e-Government and open
government overlap to the extent that they intend to deliver government services to the
citizen. Conceptually, however, e-Government and open government are different
paradigms, influencing each other.
1.2 e-Government in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
e-Government applications include creation of websites for disseminating information and
static content of the welfare projects of various government agencies, delivery of
government certificates (like land ownership record, income tax permanent account
number, passport, birth certificate, marriage registration certificate and so on) through
digital means as an alternative to paper-based certificates.
During the acute COVID-19 pandemic period from March 2020 to December 2020,
e-Government applications weredeveloped for usage on mobile phones in the containment
zones in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) for enabling delivery of essential services
like groceries, medicine and food directly to households in a contactless manner.
e-Government applications are vehicles for the delivery of government services and
information to its citizens and stakeholders.
In several Indian states, including the AP state, e-Government services are available online
and can be accesses through desktops, laptops and smartphones. These e-Government
services are popular with the digitally literate citizens, in India as elsewhere, who consume
these services with little effort. To address issues relating to digital inclusivity, especially in
the rural areas, specially appointed government agents and officials help the digitally
illiterate citizens in filling up application forms and uploading them digitally to designated
government authorities in specified government electronic services (e-services) centers,
also known as “Common Services Centers” [1]. Balakrishna (2018) provides details of such
e-Government services and applications.
Following the global trend, the AP state, as with the other Indian states, is increasingly
adopting IT in its interactions with the central and local governments, businesses and its
citizens. The Ministry of Electronicsand Information Technology Government of India (2021)
provides the electronic transactions (e-transactions) count of various e-Government
initiatives in India, and informs that the AP state leads the country with an accumulated
6,824.4 million e-transactionsas on November 1, 2021. The state has been in the forefront in
spearheading IT-driven e-Government through collaborations with the private sector, and
recognized in several national forums (Balakrishna, 2018). Ground-breaking e-Government
projects are being implemented in the AP state through substantial private sector
participation (Balakrishna,2020).
1.3 Components of e-Government
Central to e-Government applications, irrespective of the channels of delivery, is the
software which makes the applications work as envisioned by government policymakers.
Software is defined as a set of computer instructions which provide the specified function
and performance through manipulating information. Resident in a cellular phone or a
complex mainframe computer, software transforms information through its computing
potential to forms that are more useful to businesses for enhancing competitiveness and
acts as a channel to other gateways of information (like the internet). As a vehicle, software
controls operating systems and other computer networks. Literature supports the fact that
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