Sustainability Framework for E-Government Success: Case of WoredaNet Services in Ethiopia
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Date
2015-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Sustaining successful e-government initiatives is of paramount importance for governments of
developing countries because failure of the initiatives in those countries is very high and this also
demonstrates that the issue has been challenging and poorly understood. Despite the high failure
rate, e-government initiatives still receive huge investment and this in turn necessitates a long term
benefit out of the investments. Sustainability of e-government initiatives is not treated with the
seriousness it deserves. As a result, opportunities that would have been available for citizens in
developing countries out of those e-government initiatives have not been well exploited. This
research, thus, tries to explore the potential relationship between e-government success and
sustainability in an integrated manner.
Based on a qualitative research methodology using multiple case study approach, this study
focused on efforts to implement and sustain a G2G e-government initiative in Ethiopia and its
subsequent challenges. Four districts (namely Lasta, Damot Gale, Sekela & Isara) were considered
in two groups. The grouping is based on theoretical replication for different results whereas the
cases within a group are based on literal replication for related results. Structurational Model of
Technology was used as an analytical tool. The data analysis revealed that differences between the
two groups of districts are mainly related to a set of organizational and environmental factors.
This study has made both theoretical and practical contributions. In terms of theoretical
contributions, the study proposes a conceptual framework based on the insights obtained from the
empirical work. The conceptual framework aims at facilitating an understanding about success
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and sustainability of e-government initiatives by uncovering the relationship between the enablers
of e-government success and sustainability considering the role of IT-enabled administrative
processes as a potential trajectory between the two concepts. The framework attempts to address
the limitations of existing models/framework for evaluating e-government success and
sustainability. It demonstrates that in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of success
and sustainability of e-government projects, such an analysis must incorporate the
interconnectedness of enablers of e-government success and sustainability. Through this
explanation, the research contributes to debates around sustainability in the context of information
systems in general and e-government in particular. From the practical perspective, this study
presents an in-depth investigation of a G2G in Ethiopia. Such an exploration provides the
Ethiopian government with an assessment of the performance of WoredaNet and other egovernment
initiatives in the country. It leads to the development of some recommendations for
improving e-government in Ethiopia. Such findings are also valuable especially for other
developing countries in their effort to develop e-government in their respective countries.
Accordingly, the conceptual framework can serve practitioners as a quality tool to assess success
and sustainability aspect of e-government initiatives. On the whole, the study provides a new
perspective for understanding e-government implementation and highlights key issues which
should be cautiously managed and systematically considered in order to achieve sustainability of
successful e-government initiatives. Future studies attempting to deepen our understanding of
success and sustainability of e-government implementations can also provide insights by extending
or refining the proposed framework; conducting a quantitative research to test proposed
relationships; deal with a system perspective of e-government sustainability; conducting crosscase
study across nations; and making longitudinal investigation of the phenomenon among others.
Keywords: e-Government success, e-Government sustainability, Sustainability Framework,
Administrative processes, e-Government enablers
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Keywords
e-Government success,, e-Government sustainability,, Sustainability Framework,, Administrative processes,, e-Government enablers