Exploring digital government transformation: a literature review

This paper presents findings of the literature review on the recent developments of digital government transformation. It aims to inform the current debate about the dynamics and potential impacts of such transformation. The review covers the literature on the topic developed in the past decade, with a special focus on the conceptual transition from eGovernment towards Digital Government and the intervening factors that allowed the use of digital technologies to revolutionise public services, policymaking and public governance. The literature reviewed for this paper confirmed that the barriers and preconditions for a successful digital government transformation are complex and often not technology related. In fact, the introduction of new technologies by governments is always mediated by organisational, institutional, legal, ethical and social factors. Digital technologies may transform virtually every process, system and structure of government, resulting into redefinition of responsibilities and work routines of public officials. Nevertheless, they also create issues and trade-offs that merit careful consideration and preparation before a full-blown change is introduced. In conclusion, to enable to move from eGovernment to Digital Government transformation the application of new emerging technologies is the starting point but should not be considered in isolation from other intervening factors, from their possible combination, and from their specific characteristics.