E‐government adoption in Oman: motivating factors from a government perspective

Abstract

PurposeSince little research has been done on e‐government initiatives in developing countries from a government perspective, this study aims to contribute towards filling this empirical gap. It also comes at a time when Oman, like many other countries in the region are tackling issues related to transformation of public services and transparent government. E‐government is one of the tools in the process of transition.Design/methodology/approachA theoretically derived and empirically confirmed framework of government motives for implementing e‐government is proposed. This study used a qualitative case study approach with semi‐structured interviews as the main tool of data collection and hermeneutics as the technique for data analysis. Empirical investigation was preceded by a content analysis of research and public official artefacts relating to motivation for engagement with e‐government in 70 developing countries. Identified motives were categorised through the lenses of institutional theory, information quality, and quality of service models and incorporated in a single framework to guide the empirical investigation while keeping it flexible to accommodate for country‐specific factors specific to Oman.FindingsFindings suggest that Oman is motivated by driving forces similar to other developing countries. Specifically, the Government of Oman implemented e‐government projects due to international coercive, mimetic, and normative dynamics of conformance to international standards. Similarly, the government employed e‐government to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations by improving public service quality and quality of information shared between different agencies. Motivating factors were, first, the compelling need to effectively respond to a specific economic crisis of anticipated depletion of oil reserves and, second, institutional dynamics inflicted by the global discourse on e‐government and knowledge‐based economy.Practical implicationsThe framework proposed in this paper represents a view of e‐government objectives conceptualised in a theoretical context. It can be used to assist policy‐makers in formulating successful e‐government implementation strategies. In addition, dimensions of service quality and information quality could form a systematic basis for successful provision of electronic public services.Originality/valueThe research in e‐government lacks a clear definition and theoretical linkage of the different adoption motives from a government perspective especially during the pre‐implementation stage. The proposed framework strives to be both comprehensive and integrative, based on interrelated theoretical elements, as compared to existing frameworks which mostly focus on the end‐user adoption of e‐government services.