Assessing the Antecedents of E-Government Adoption: A Case of the Ghanaian Public Sector

Abstract

For decades, E-government has been integrated into the governance aspect of developed and developing economies. Its adoption enabled public officials and agencies to discharge their functions and make data-driven decisions in an equitable and timely manner. Literature however is limited in terms of explaining the cognitive and attitudinal factors that contribute to the adoption and utilization of e-government systems and platforms. This study contributes to the ongoing discussions by means of exploring behavioral factors that could influence individuals’ attitudes and behavior toward e-government adoption. The study utilized the theory of planned behavior to assess the psychological and cognitive influencers that elicit the attitude and behavior of employees toward the use of the new technology. The case study was conducted among the public sector institutions in Ghana. The structural model connecting the variables in the study was examined using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Model (SEM) techniques. Findings from the study indicate that subjective norms and attitudes have a significant effect on individuals’ behavioral intentions. However, perceived behavioral control was found not to have a significant effect on the behavioral intentions of employees as suggested by previous studies. Although the findings contribute to theory by elucidating which components of the theory of planned behavior truly impact individuals’ attitudes and mental models, it pays limited attention to the role of cultural dynamics and how it can influence the behavioral intentions of individuals. This can be addressed in future studies.