A framework for e-government implementation at a national level

This study attempts to explore and investigate empirically how an e-government system can be implemented at a national level; the key issues that might restrict its implementation; and how these issues could be treated in practice. Following a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, an initial conceptual framework for e-government implementation is formulated The framework is then applied in a real world case study to support further data collection and to establish an exhaustive view of the e-government implementation process at a national level. The case study examines the development of an e-government implementation in Qatar and involved 26 semi-structured interviews, 10 observations, 10 electronic reports, analysis of around 50 documents, and numerous newspaper articles and press releases. The interviewees included senior officials from the e-government steering committee, the e-government project team and various government ministries. The documentations included all the key documents relating the e-government project. Based on the data collected the initial framework is then revised by using the interpretive case study approach, which depends on an iterative research cycle where triangulated data are extracted The study then combined the evidence from the literature with the case study data to narrow the gap between e-government implementation theory and practice. As a result, a comprehensive framework including detailed measurements to differentiate four development stages is created. This framework classifies the key issues that might restrict e-government implementation into two main categories, organisational and technological issues, and uses other issues as the development measurements. The framework can be used as a tool to determine the road ahead for implementing an e-government system at a national level and to identify the main practices, processes, possible goals, progress indicators and key conditions to move from one stage to another. It can be claimed that this study has made a novel contribution to the area of e-government and has expanded the boundaries of knowledge, especially for governments that are seeking to implement an egovernment system at a national level.