Governments at all levels are faced with the challenge of transformation and the need to reinvent government systems in order to deliver efficient and cost effective services, information, and knowledge through information and communication technologies. Electronic government, or e-government, is defined as a way for governments to use the most innovative information and communication technologies, particularly web-based Internet applications, to provide citizens and businesses with more convenient access to government information and services, to improve the quality of the services, and to provide greater opportunities to participate in democratic institutions and processes. E-government presents a tremendous impetus to move forward in the 21st century with higher quality, cost-effective, government services, and a better relationship between citizens and government. Notwithstanding the tremendous potential of e-government applications to deliver public sector services more efficiently and effectively, the citizenry must adopt and continually leverage these virtual offerings, such as renewing a driver’s license, for measurable value to be gained. In the process of designing and developing Web-based services which offer citizens both appropriate information and worthwhile services that are more convenient than traditional government transactions, public sector agencies must thoroughly recognize the elements that impact citizen adoption of and satisfaction with e-government. This research considers theoretical foundations from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Web Trust Model (WTM), and SERVQUAL to form a parsimonious model of citizen adoption and satisfaction for e-government services. This theory-oriented framework unites three research areas by asserting that an amalgamation of factors – technology adoption, trust, and service quality – influence an individual’s adoption propensity and service quality perception. Significant findings suggest usefulness, or end-user convenience, to be the principal determinant of e-government adoption and satisfaction, unaffected even when controlling demographic variables such as race, income, and education are introduced. Additionally, future implications of this research are discussed.

This thesis examines the concept of a digital transformation as it features in a number of strategy, policy, and evaluation documents issued by entities with a role in Norwegian public administration. The drive for digital public services and their stated results, objectives, and prerequisites, is delineated through a focus on the Norwegian Tax Administration’s flagship digitalisation project Fremtidens Innkreving (The Future’s Collection). Through the methodological approach of Critical Discourse Analysis, in combination with a theoretical framework drawing on Foucault’s writings on discourse, the thesis demonstrates how the representation of a digital transformation produces a set of discursive conditions. The thesis identifies four key statements that represents the documents’ vision and detail the way in which the statements rely on each other to acquire their textual function and legitimacy. With digital public services, the process of collecting, sharing, and managing data is set to function seamlessly in a digital eco system where users would experience less bureaucracy and more simplicity. To achieve this vision, the information fuelling these processes has to function in a specific way and be awarded certain properties. Therefore, this thesis argues that the discourse on a digital transformation of public services relays an understanding of information as both malleable and without contextual boundaries.  This is a two year master’s thesis in Library and Information Science. / Denna uppsats undersöker begreppet digital transformation så som det framträder i ett antal strategier, policydokument och utvärderingsrapporter utfärdade av aktörer med en roll i norsk offentlig förvaltning. Drivkraften för digitala offentliga tjänster och deras uttalade resultat, mål och förutsättningar beskrivs genom en fokus på den norska skattemyndighetens flaggskeppsprojekt för digitalisering, Fremtidens Innkreving (Framtidens Uppbörd). Genom en metodologisk ansats av kritisk diskursanalys, i kombination med en teoretisk ram som bygger på Foucaults skrifter om diskurs, demonstrerar avhandlingen hur representationen av en digital transformation skapar en uppsättning diskursiva villkor. Denna uppsats identifierar fyra nyckeluttalanden som representerar dokumentens vision och detaljerar hur dessa uttalanden förlitar sig på varandra för att uppnå sin textuella funktion och legitimitet. Med digitala offentliga tjänster ska processen för att samla in, dela och hantera data fungera sömlöst i ett digitalt ekosystem där användarna upplever mindre byråkrati och mer enkelhet. För att uppnå denna vision måste informationen som driver dessa processer fungera på ett specifikt sätt och tilldelas vissa egenskaper. Därför argumenterar denna avhandling för att diskursen om en digital transformation av offentliga tjänster förmedlar en förståelse av information som både formbar och utan kontextuella gränser.   Det här är en tvåårig masteruppsats i bibliotek och informationsvetenskap.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree M-Tech: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This dissertation reports on an empirical evaluation of citizen satisfaction with e-government information services provided by Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments, since citizens perceive service quality as an effective indicator of e-government shortfalls. Few studies have been conducted in SADC countries to empirically evaluate the satisfaction of regarding e-government services. An e-government satisfaction model was applied, which is a non-linear framework with interactive quality proxies. A total of 364 respondents was used for data collection. An analytic modelling technique of Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used to predict the factors that most influence citizen satisfaction with e-government information services provided by SADC governments. The resulting model fits the data with a high goodness of fit (GoF) of 0.62 and a model predictive power (R2) of 0.60 for the global model. In addition, the results of this study show that perceived quality is the most influential factor affecting citizen satisfaction with e-government information services, followed by citizen complaint handling and then citizen expectation. Finally, this study used PLS to rank the SADC countries involved in this study in terms of which country is offering the best level of e-government information services and customer satisfaction. The results indicate that South Africa was ranked highest and Tanzania lowest.

The need for a regional framework for information security in e-Government for the East African Community (EAC) has become more urgent with the signing in 2009 of the EAC Common Market Protocol. This protocol will entail more electronic interactions amongst government agencies in the EAC partner states which are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Government to Government (G2G) transactions are the backbone of e-Government transactions. If a government wants to provide comprehensive services that are easy to use by citizens, employees or businesses, it needs to be able to combine information or services that are provided by different government agencies or departments. Furthermore, the governments must ensure that the services provided are secure so that citizens trust that an electronic transaction is as good as or better than a manual one. Thus governments in the EAC must address information security in ways that take into consideration that these governments have limited resources and skills to use for e-Government initiatives. The novel contribution of this study is an information security framework dubbed the TOG framework, comprising of technical, operational, governance, process and maturity models to address information security requirements for G2G transactions in the EAC. The framework makes reference to standards that can be adopted by the EAC while taking into consideration contextual factors which are resource, legislative and cultural constraints. The process model uses what is termed a ‘Plug and Play’ approach which provides the resource poor countries with a means of addressing information security that can be implemented as and when resources allow but eventually leading to a comprehensive framework. Thus government agencies can start implementation based on the operational and technical guidelines while waiting for governance structures to be put in place, or can specifically address governance requirements where they already exist. Conversely, governments using the same framework can take into consideration existing technologies and operations while putting governance structures in place. As a proof of concept, the proposed framework is applied to a case study of a G2G transaction in Tanzania. The framework is evaluated against critical success factors. / Computing / D. Phil. (Computer Science)

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Information and communication technologies are rapidly changing the future of public administration. The desire to become part of the “Information Age” has instigated a worldwide transformation process that puts information and communication technologies at the heart of government processes and practices. One strategy that embraces these technologies is electronic government (e-government). The ability to provide government services and information online is becoming a benchmark for governments in both developed and developing nations. E-government has arrived in South Africa and slowly it is starting to shape our lives. Improved service delivery, access to information, an open and transparent form of government and the ability to participate in certain government activities are just some of the advantages that e-government has to offer. Although disparities in access and education levels remain a constant hindrance in South Africa, the e-government strategy does have the potential to promote community development. By providing an opportunity to learn a new skill, gain new information and participate in your local government activities, e-government has the potential to empower local citizens thereby promoting community development. The acquisition of new knowledge is a vital tool in today’s modern society. Therefore, through the provision of new knowledge e-government is a strategy for the future.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / m-Government or mobile-Government is seen as part of e-Government and an additional channel for the delivery of public services and information to the citizen. This study critically examines and evaluates the extent to which the Provincial Government Western Cape has adopted m-Government and implemented related services. A survey conducted by Kirsten (2006) on the adoption and readiness of mobile technology by businesses in South Africa was used as the foundation of this study to determine the level of readiness in the Provincial Government Western Cape. Managers and technical staff within the Province’s information and communication technology component, the Centre for e-Innovation, were interviewed and asked to complete the survey. The study found that, although there is a relatively high degree of adoption with regard to various aspects of mobile and wireless technology, there are many obstacles and barriers that need to be overcome in order to achieve a higher level of m-Government maturity or readiness. The study makes various suggestions on how to overcome these barriers. The most important suggestion is to develop a holistic approach to the adoption of m-Government. Plans for adoption should be incremental to ensure that small victories that can be built on are achieved; the involvement of key stakeholders is also essential.

Thesis (MPA (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Electronic government or e-Government has become a global phenomenon and is seen as a tool to strengthen the performance of government and public administration. An efficient and effective state administration is a necessary requirement for economic and social development. This study describes to what extent the e-Government policy of the PGWC compares with other e-Government policies internationally and in particular the Australian e-Government policy. South Africa as a young democracy can use the transformational power of the e- Government approach to the benefit of government, business and the citizens of the country if this approach is applied appropriately. e-Government offers the opportunity to improve public services and can even reduce the gap that exists between those who are computer literate and those who are not. E-Government in the PGWC is still in the beginning phases compared to e- Government in Australia, which has developed rapidly over the last decade. The PGWC can learn from the Australian e-Government development process, with Australians being regarded as one of the leading e-Government nations in the world, according to the United Nations Organisation. Even though the e-Government policy of the PGWC and the Australian e- Government policy use a comparatively similar approach within the demographic boundaries in which they exist, it was found that the socio-economic challenges of South Africa as a developing country, still have an enormous influence on the optimal application of the e-Government policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elektroniese regering of e-Regering het ‘n wêreldwye verskynsel geraak en kan gesien word as ‘n maatstaf vir die versterking van regeringsoptrede en publieke administrasie. ‘n Effektiewe en doeltreffende staatsadministrasie is ‘n noodsaaklike vereiste vir ekonomiese en sosiale ontwikkeling. Hierdie studie beskryf tot watter mate die e-Regeringsbeleid van die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering met ander internasionale e-Regeringsbeleide vergelyk, veral met betrekking tot die e- Regeringsbeleid van Australië. As ‘n jong demokrasie kan Suid-Afrika die transformerende invloed van die eregerings benadering tot die voordeel van die regering, besigheid en die burgers van die land gebruik indien hierdie benadering korrek toegepas word. e-Regering bied die geleentheid om publieke dienste te verbeter en kan selfs die bestaande gaping vernou tussen diegene wat rekenaargeletterd is en diegene wat nie rekenaargeletterd is nie. e-Regering in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering is nog in ‘n betreklike vroeë stadium vergeleke met e-regering in Australië waar dit oor die laaste dekade snel ontwikkel het. Die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering kan vanuit die ontwikkelingsproses van die Australiese e-Regering leer, daar Australië deur die Verenigde Volkere-organisasie as een van die voorste e-Regeringnasies in die wêreld beskou word. Selfs al toon die beleide van die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering en die van Australië ‘n relatief eenderse benadering tot e-Regering binne die demografiese grense waarin hulle bestaan, is gevind dat die sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings van Suid-Afrika as ‘n ontwikkelingsland steeds ‘n enorme invloed op die optimale aanwending van e-Regering het.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / Data underpins the smooth operations and strategic decision-making of the day-to-day operation of an organization’s business processes. With the increasing automation of an organization's activities, large volumes of data are generated faster than they may be consumed and digested. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is faced with such a generation of large volumes of data. The department could have benefited from data warehousing in which data is stored within a single repository. However, there is no framework that could inform the adoption of Data Warehousing by a South African government department. This research study therefore intended to design a framework for the adoption of Data Warehousing by a South African government department.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / Data underpins the smooth operations and strategic decision-making of the day-to-day operation of an organization’s business processes. With the increasing automation of an organization's activities, large volumes of data are generated faster than they may be consumed and digested. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is faced with such a generation of large volumes of data. The department could have benefited from data warehousing in which data is stored within a single repository. However, there is no framework that could inform the adoption of Data Warehousing by a South African government department. This research study therefore intended to design a framework for the adoption of Data Warehousing by a South African government department.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The government's intention is to extend the provision of government services to citizens beyond the traditional boundaries of time and space. Additionally to the face-to-face provision of government services, this could also be achieved through utilization of the Internet and the evolving information and communication technologies. This concept is what has brought about what is called the electronic government or e-government as some would refer to it. E-government is meant to facilitate service provision to citizens and businesses that the government has a mission to serve - including those handicapped due to physical, social, economic, geographical or cultural factors - independent of time and space. Equity and fairness, which drive governments social inclusion, dictate that disadvantaged groups should not experience inferior access to public services compared to other groups. Therefore, no matter what channel is decided upon by government to use to provide these services, it remains government's responsibility to cater for all its citizens and residents. How e-government is accepted and utilized by South African residents, especially in rural areas, is not adequately and properly understood. This study utilized and applied Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to explore the acceptance and use of e-government in rural South Africa.