Understanding e-government failure in the developing country context: a process-oriented study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gunawong, Panom; Gao, Ping
• Is Part Of: Information technology for development. Volume 23:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Actor-network theory -- accumulated process -- developing countries -- e-government failure -- process-oriented study -- Thailand; Information technology -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 004
• DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2016.1269713
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1102

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research aims to investigate the underlying process-based causes of e-government failure. Through the lens of actor-network theory, this paper presents a process-oriented study of the failure of Thailand's Smart ID Card project. Adding to the extant knowledge on e-government failures that attributes this phenomenon to internal and external factors, this paper argues that the reason the project failed was a cumulative process of failure to create and maintain the actor-network. Policy implications for developing countries to efficiently manage their e-government initiatives are given, such as adopting an open principle in setting e-government project objectives and initiating the actor-network; implementing the e-government target in stages based on prepared environment; allowing an e-government system to evolve according to the degree of readiness in the information and communications technology (ICT) system design, implementation and local adoption; and including large, nationwide projects as part of a national informatization strategy.