Digital government: Analytical models, underlying theories, and emergent theoretical perspective

Information and technology have increasingly become essential components of the work of public organizations worldwide. This trend has been coined Digital Government. The study of Digital Government has evolved from the adoption of technology determinism as its dominant perspective to the use of more comprehensive and integrative views. Currently, there are many conceptual and analytical models that aim to better understand the development, adoption, and success of Digital Government. This chapter presents different models of Digital Government and explains their theoretical foundations. In doing so, it acknowledges that several of these models do not have clear links to theories and are mainly based on practical concerns and empirical evidence. The chapter also identifies several philosophical perspectives and suggests how some of them may provide alternative lenses to enrich the study of Digital Government. The chapter ends by providing some concluding remarks and suggesting ideas for future research about this topic.