What a hard-bitten, cynical comment from that “US correspondent”. What, now we have McDonalds everywhere, iPods and downloads of music and movies, we are to expect instant gratification in the supply of government services too? Get real!

We didn’t get overnight change in banking and finance, we didn’t get it in e-travel and on-line shopping — we haven’t had it anywhere, really. So why expect instant result in government?

Government programmes are extensive and complex. Unlike retail and backing, access to services for potentially excluded groups (aka the poor, sometimes neglected by our US brethren) is a very real issue. And programmes have existed for decades (eg, NHS) — significant business transformation and process redesign is required, and that must be done properly to avoid the costly project failures we know so well.

I am disturbed — always — by the short term horizon of politicians. The next election is everything. But that’s where the strength of an independent, professional civil service is paramount — example here of course is Italy, which keeps pace despite constant political change. Fear not, it will happen, just not as soon as we’d like. The pressure and capability for change is inexorable. Go forth to ICA, William, and preach the gospel of egovernment change as the art of the possible, but within the practical timeframe of the bureaucrat. (I’ll let you into a secret — most ICA members already know this )