RESTRUCTURING IN PUBLIC SECTOR: FROM ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT TO SMART GOVERNMENT IN TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Upon the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), countries embarked on a structuring process in the public sector in order to provide faster and more efficient services. Acting positively towards technological developments in the public sector, Türkiye started digital transformation reform studies and developed “e-Government applications” especially in the recent years. In this context, during the transition to the Presidential Government System, Türkiye established the Digital Transformation Office (DTO), which is considered the most important stage of the smart government (s-Government). With the establishment of DTO, the transition process from “e-Government” to “s-Government” has started and radical changes have taken place in the Turkish public administration. With this office, consolidation of the coordination functions under the same entity was aimed regarding the issues such as cyber security, critical infrastructures, big data and artificial intelligence. By considering the associated changes in the public sector along with the development of technology, this study attempts to examine the functions and structure of DTO, which played an effective role in the transition from “e-Government” to “s-Government” in Türkiye.