Introduction

In relation to the assessment of e-government projects in developing countries. Heeks (2003) estimates that:

1. • “35 percent of projects are total failures: the system was never implemented or was implemented but immediately abandoned;

2. • 50 percent are partial failures: the major goals of the system were not attained and/or there were significant undesirable outcomes; and

3. • 15 percent are successes: most stakeholder groups attained their major goals and did not experience significant undesirable outcomes.”

More generally, considering software development projects, Sommerville (2006) estimates that:

1. • Software bugs, or errors, are so prevalent and detrimental that they cost the US economy an estimated $59.5 billion annually, or about 0.6 percent of America's GDP;

2. • 23 percent of all projects undertaken by internal information system organizations are cancelled before their completion;

3. • 49 percent of projects cost 189 percent of their original estimates;

4. • Only 28 percent of projects are completed on time and within budget; and

5. • Completed projects have only 42 percent of the originally proposed specifications or functions.

The UN Report (2003), E-Government at the Crossroads, confirms that despite very limited data on e-government failures, “some analysts estimate the rate of failure of e-government projects in countries with developing economies to be very high, at around 60—80 percent, with the higher rate of failure characteristic of Africa.”