Global e-government development: besides the relative wealth of countries, do policies matter?

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether, discounting the effect of the relative wealth of countries, it is possible to observe the relevance of policies for e-government development. Design/methodology/approach The deviations of countries' results from what could be expected, considering their relative wealth is calculated by using the residuals of a linear regression using the Gross Domestic Product per capita as the independent variable and the UN E-Government Development Index as the dependent variable. The countries that achieve better and worse results than expected are then identified and their cases are analyzed by resorting to secondary sources, namely, published research referring to their cases. Those research documents were identified by successively searching the Scopus database, the Google Scholar database and the Web of Science. Findings The existence of formal e-government strategies and plans and the capacity to implement them can make a difference, allowing countries to achieve better results than expected or, in their absence, to perform worse than expected. Research limitations/implications The proposed methodology can be useful to e-government researchers, particularly as a basis for deeper and more detailed studies. Practical implications Countries should invest in well-developed and focused strategies and continuity of public policies and their capacity to deliver results. For that purpose, political commitment and high-level coordination are key factors. For low-income countries, long-lasting cooperation with external experienced partners is crucial. For high-income countries, innovative thinking is a key enabler. Originality/value This study uses an innovative method to look beyond the effect of the relative wealth of countries and investigate the relevance of public policies for e-government development.

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“…The use of an electronic digital signature when sending an electronic appeal is not required. At the stage of consideration and resolution of citizens' appeals, a set of procedural actions is carried out by an authorized person (Dias, 2020). At this stage, the consideration of the appeal is carried out on the merits, in case of need, verification of the facts stated in the complaint or statement, and clarification of the reasons for citizens to complain.…”

Developing a Cybersecurity Framework for e-Government Project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…There are various issues that necessitate an investigation on the importance of cybersecurity in e-government systems such as that of Saudi Arabia. The e-government model of government systems is a relatively modern conceptualization with its origins in the 1980s [1]. The implementation of technology in delivering diversified services within a government context is a costly affair that requires safeguarding for economic prudence [10].…”

“…They comprise four basic components: technology, structure, people, and tasks. They entail an integrated collection of components that allow for the gathering, storage, and processing of data that is consequently used to contribute to bodies of knowledge and provide information within digital circles [1]. A computer information system is used to collect and interpret information in different contexts [18].…”

“…e-government is the short form for electronic government and refers to the framework of using information systems and technological communications to provide services to citizens within government. e-government encompasses a diversity of variables, including the use of the Internet and devices such as computers to simplify the work of government in providing various services to citizens [1]. The adoption of an e-government model can provide numerous opportunities for different stakeholders and enhance the convenience and efficiency of services [18].…”

“…Government represents a diversity of functions, structures and objectives. The government machinery of different countries operates on a dynamic system of conflicting and complementary variables [1]. The implementation of e-government systems occurs within the complexity of such systems and requires extensive considerations around security [2].…”