City information and communication networks as means of incrising participation: Case study of municipality of Inđija, Serbia

Abstract

City information and communication networks are specific form of local online communities, designed for inhabitants of particular city, its administration, municipality service providers, investors, tourists, as well as any others interested party. This paper studies the potential of such networks to assist public participation in city planning and management. It explores the benefits and potential pitfalls of using such technologies. In addition, the paper will present and analyze the city information and communication network created and used by the municipality of Inđija. In 2002, the municipality made a strategic development plan, in which the improvement of local administration was among the first priorities. The administration started the installation of an integrated information system right away - essentially creating e-government platform - in order to enable all citizens to participate in solving local problems, as well as to facilitate their day-today communication with the local administration.

Gradske informacione mreže (GIM) su oblik lokalne online zajednice namenjene stanovnicima određenog grada, gradskoj upravi i različitim institucijama grada, njegovim posetiocima, investitorima i drugim zainteresovanim. Ovaj rad posmatra GIM pre svega sa stanovišta potencijalnog doprinosa povećanju učešća građana u urbanom planiranju i upravljanju i analizira prednosti i mane primene ovakve tehnologije. U okviru ovog rada biće prikazan i analiziran GIM koji je opština Inđija radila za svoje potrebe. Opština je 2002. god. napravila plan strateškog razvoja u okviru kojeg je značajno mesto zauzimala reforma lokalne administracije, a jedna od osnovnih metoda poboljšanja rada uprave bilo je uvođenje integralnog informacionog sistema koji je omogućio elektronsku upravu i razvoj GIM-a.