Comparison of the e-government services supporting doing business in Portugal and Estonia

Francisco Pereira

Master's thesis

Abstract:

he subject of the presented master thesis is E-Government and a concrete comparison between the countries of Portugal and Estonia. The main aim of this study is to explore the current E-Government services supporting starting and managing a business in Portugal, a country that is growing its public presence online, and compare the experience with the same services available in Estonia, a country distinguished by its digital services. To achieve this aim, the author divided the work to fulfil three primary objectives: describe the existing EGovernment services in Portugal and Estonia, compare the E-Government services for businesses in Portugal and Estonia, and evaluate how much it costs and how long it takes to register a company in Portugal and Estonia, using the E-Government services. To achieve the first objective, the researcher collected and analyzed data from official governmental sources to compile the current state of the E-Government in both countries. The second stage focused on comparing the data compiled in the first objective, along with the performance of an action research approach in which the author went through the process of starting a business in Portugal and compared it with the experiences of other entrepreneurs who went through the same process. Lastly, the data collected in the previous objectives was compiled in a comprehensive way to objectively compare the costs and time-consumption of this process in Portugal and Estonia. Based on the collected testimonies and experiences, the author that Portugal can learn from Estonia that the investment in this field brings a lot of benefits, and the current infrastructures in the country have to be improved, although these infrastructures are in place to become a successful case of E-Government if the right adjustments are made.

Abstract:

he subject of the presented master thesis is E-Government and a concrete comparison between the countries of Portugal and Estonia. The main aim of this study is to explore the current E-Government services supporting starting and managing a business in Portugal, a country that is growing its public presence online, and compare the experience with the same services available in Estonia, a country distinguished by its digital services. To achieve this aim, the author divided the work to fulfil three primary objectives: describe the existing EGovernment services in Portugal and Estonia, compare the E-Government services for businesses in Portugal and Estonia, and evaluate how much it costs and how long it takes to register a company in Portugal and Estonia, using the E-Government services. To achieve the first objective, the researcher collected and analyzed data from official governmental sources to compile the current state of the E-Government in both countries. The second stage focused on comparing the data compiled in the first objective, along with the performance of an action research approach in which the author went through the process of starting a business in Portugal and compared it with the experiences of other entrepreneurs who went through the same process. Lastly, the data collected in the previous objectives was compiled in a comprehensive way to objectively compare the costs and time-consumption of this process in Portugal and Estonia. Based on the collected testimonies and experiences, the author that Portugal can learn from Estonia that the investment in this field brings a lot of benefits, and the current infrastructures in the country have to be improved, although these infrastructures are in place to become a successful case of E-Government if the right adjustments are made.

Keywords

e-services, e-governance, digital government, e-government

Keywords

e-governance, digital government, e-government, e-services

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 4. 10. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 8. 6. 2020
• Supervisor: Jan Kučera
• Reader: Soňa Karkošková

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Aplikovaná informatika / Information Systems Management