E-Government as a Carrier of Context
Abstract
e-Government is a global project of technology transfer taking designs from one context into a different context. Using examples of ‘e-transparency’ projects, this paper finds that the context of design inscribed into e-government systems in both explicit and implicit ways can produce a mismatch with the context in which it is deployed. This creates a contextual collision that can often lead to e-government failure. In other cases, there is some form of accommodation between the two contexts: users may appropriate inscribed elements to their own purposes or there may even be a reciprocating accommodation leading to a viable system. Factors that shape either failure or accommodation are identified, as are the networks of interests that determine the design inscription and deployment accommodation processes. Conclusions are drawn about policy on e-government project design and development of e-government capacities; and about the relevance of developing/transitional economy cases for the literature on the sociology of technology.
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The absence of institutional changes in developing countries may explain their poor returns on ICT investments, particularly for large and complex ICT systems.
“The absence of institutional changes in developing countries therefore may explain their poor returns on ICT investments, particularly for large and complex ICT systems (Heeks, 2005; World Bank, 2016).”
From Does E-Government Improve Government Capacity? Evidence from Tax Compliance Costs, Tax Revenue, and Public Procurement Competitiveness (2020) · cites this paper as Heeks, 2005
E-government does not systematically improve public procurement competitiveness, in comparison to the case of e-filing and tax compliance costs.
“The result that e-government does not systematically improve public procurement competitiveness, in comparison to the case of e-filing and tax compliance costs, contrasts with the findings from country-specific studies (Heeks, 2005; Singer et al., 2009; Lewis-Faupel et al., 2016).”
From Does E-Government Improve Government Capacity? Evidence from Tax Compliance Costs, Tax Revenue, and Public Procurement Competitiveness (2020) · cites this paper as Heeks, 2005
Heeks (2005) estimates that only 15 percent of e-government initiatives are successful, 50 percent are partial failures and 35 percent are total failures in developing countries.
“This is consistent with Heeks (2005), who estimates that only 15 percent of e-government initiatives are successful, 50 percent are partial failures and 35 percent are total failures in developing countries.”
From Does E-Government Improve Government Capacity? Evidence from Tax Compliance Costs, Tax Revenue, and Public Procurement Competitiveness (2020) · cites this paper as Heeks (2005)
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Self-citationThe management of change in public organizations: A literature review
KUIPERS, B. S., HIGGS, M., KICKERT, W., TUMMERS, L., GRANDIA, J., & VAN DER VOET, J. (2014) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/padm.12040 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Kochanova, A., Hasnain, Z., & Larson, B. (2020) · The World Bank Economic Review · doi:10.1093/wber/lhx024 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Jiménez, A., Hanoteau, J., & Barkemeyer, R. (2022) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.070 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
- Authors
- HEEKS, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- HEEKS, RICHARD
- ORCID
- HEEKS, RICHARD
- Venue
- Journal of Public Policy
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2005-02-02
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 51-74
- ISSN
- 0143-814X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7815
- OpenAlex
- W2122205846
- Cited by
- 233
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 39.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Public Policy (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › E-Government and Public Services
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Keywords
- e-government, technology transfer, user appropriation, accommodation, e-government failure, interest networks, e-government policy, sociology of technology, transition economies
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