The Role of Computer Literacy Familiarity in the Adoption of e-Government by Public Sector Workers in Local Government Authorities: A Case of Kigamboni Municipal Council

Abstract

Public sector workplaces, including local government authorities, have adopted e-Government in recent years to improve service delivery, enhance transparency, and foster citizen engagement. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of computer literacy on e-Government adoption in local government authorities in Tanzania with the focus being on the Kigamboni Municipal Council. A study is conducted to examine how computer literacy familiarity among public sector workers in local government authorities influences the adoption of e-Government. The study adopted the mixed method approach which involves both quantitative and qualitative data. The data was thus collected using interviews and questionnaires with the target population being employees at Kigamboni Municipal Council. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. It is established in the research that the level of computer literacy and familiarity with technology among public sector workers plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of e-Government implementation. Inferential analysis showed that computer literacy drives e-government adoption. Computer literacy's impact on e-government adoption has a mean of 3.27 and a standard deviation of 1.26. E-government usage is similarly affected by computer proficiency, with a mean of 4.5 and SD of 1.40. Computer training is also essential for e-government adoption (Mean; 3.8 SD; 1.34). Computer literacy is both a crucial factor in e-government adoption and a key obstacle at Kigamboni Municipal Council (Mean; 3.1 and SD 1.41). This finding indicates that it would be advantageous for the government to continue implementing training programs with the goal of improving the skills of a majority of participants in utilizing e-Government platforms. The efficacy of e-Government implementation is heavily influenced by the extent of computer literacy and technological proficiency exhibited by public sector employees. The research findings also suggest that the degree of computer literacy possessed by an individual plays a crucial role in determining their proficiency in utilizing e-Government platforms and services. This proficiency encompasses various activities, including conducting transactions, using systems and accessing information via websites and portals. This finding suggests that there are potential benefits for the government in maintaining the implementation of training programs aimed at enhancing the proficiency of a majority of participants in utilizing e-government platforms.