E-Government Performance in Developing Countries: A Comparative Study Across Cities

Authors

  • Aditya Pranata Wijaya Communication Science Study Program, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71435/689220

Keywords:

E Government Performance, Developing Countries , Comparative City Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the performance of e-government implementation across selected cities in developing countries by analyzing service availability, usability, information quality, transparency, citizen engagement, and institutional capacity.

Subjects and Methods: The research employed a qualitative comparative case study approach involving municipal governments implementing digital governance initiatives during 2025. Data were collected through document analysis, municipal platform observation, and semi-structured interviews with government officials, IT administrators, public service officers, and civil society representatives. Thematic analysis and cross-case comparison were used to interpret the findings.

Results: The findings indicate that metropolitan cities demonstrated stronger digital service integration, better platform usability, and higher transparency levels than smaller urban administrations. However, infrastructural limitations, fragmented administrative coordination, uneven digital literacy, and limited institutional capacity continued to affect service effectiveness and citizen participation. Digital engagement remained largely transactional rather than participatory.

Conclusions: Effective e-government development requires technological modernization, institutional reform, integrated governance systems, and sustained efforts to strengthen digital inclusion, transparency, and participatory governance practices.

References

Alves, J. N., Battistella, L. F., dos Reis Lehnhart, E., Vieira, K. M., & da Silva Zonatto, V. C. (2025, June). Digital Public Service Quality (PS-DigQual): Proposal of a Multidimensional Framework. In Conference on Digital Government Research (Vol. 26). https://doi.org/10.59490/dgo.2025.1056

Baiyere, A., Salmela, H., & Tapanainen, T. (2020). Digital transformation and the new logics of business process management. European journal of information systems, 29(3), 238-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2020.1718007

Bokhari, S. A. A., & Myeong, S. (2022). Artificial intelligence-based technological-oriented knowledge management, innovation, and e-service delivery in smart cities: Moderating role of e-governance. Applied Sciences, 12(17), 8732. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178732

Chen, C. L., Lin, Y. C., Chen, W. H., Chao, C. F., & Pandia, H. (2021). Role of government to enhance digital transformation in small service business. Sustainability, 13(3), 1028. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031028

Chen, T., Gascó-Hernandez, M., & Esteve, M. (2024). The adoption and implementation of artificial intelligence chatbots in public organizations: Evidence from US state governments. The American Review of Public Administration, 54(3), 255-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/02750740231200522

Chung, C. S., Choi, H., & Cho, Y. (2022). Analysis of digital governance transition in South Korea: Focusing on the leadership of the president for government Innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8010002

Cifuentes-Faura, J. (2022). The impact of e-government on transparency in the European Union: A multivariate analysis. Electronic Government, an International Journal, 18(1), 105-118. https://doi.org/10.1504/EG.2022.119610

Das, D. K. (2024). Exploring the symbiotic relationship between digital transformation, infrastructure, service delivery, and governance for smart sustainable cities. Smart Cities, 7(2), 806-835. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7020034

Datta, P., Walker, L., & Amarilli, F. (2020). Digital transformation: Learning from Italy’s public administration. Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases, 10(2), 54-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043886920910437

Faro, B., Abedin, B., & Cetindamar, D. (2022). Hybrid organizational forms in public sector’s digital transformation: A technology enactment approach. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 35(6), 1742-1763. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-03-2021-0126

Haug, N., Dan, S., & Mergel, I. (2024). Digitally-induced change in the public sector: a systematic review and research agenda. Public Management Review, 26(7), 1963-1987. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2023.2234917

Inakefe, G. I., Bassey, V. U., & Amadi, J. O. (2024). Evaluation of the Policy and Institutional Implications of Digital Tools in E-Governance Reforms Implementation for Service Delivery in Cross River State Civil Service, Nigeria. Sage Open, 14(4), 21582440241297047.

Kawabata, M. K., & Camargo Jr, A. S. (2023). E-Government innovation initiatives in public administration: a systematic literature review and a research agenda. Administration & Society, 55(9), 1758-1790. https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997231185847

Lubis, S., Purnomo, E. P., Lado, J. A., & Hung, C. F. (2024). Electronic governance in advancing sustainable development goals through systematic literature review. Discover Global Society, 2(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-024-00102-3

Medaglia, R., Rukanova, B., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Digital government and the circular economy transition: An analytical framework and a research agenda. Government Information Quarterly, 41(1), 101904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2023.101904

Mensah, I. K., & Mwakapesa, D. S. (2025). The impact of e-government information quality (EGIQ) dimensions on the adoption of electronic government services. Information Development, 41(2), 265-284.

Mergel, I., Edelmann, N., & Haug, N. (2019). Defining digital transformation: Results from expert interviews. Government information quarterly, 36(4), 101385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2019.06.002

Muthuswamy, V. V., & Esakki, S. (2024). Exploring Sustainable Cultural Preservation: Strategies, Challenges, and Community Engagement in Heritage Conservation Efforts. Rita Revista Indexada de Textos Academicos, (21).

Nguar, K. D. A. (2022). A systematic review of technological innovation and e-government on public management reforms in developing countries. International Journal of Electronic Governance, 14(3), 339-360. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEG.2022.125883

Omweri, F. S. (2024). A systematic literature review of e-government implementation in developing countries: examining urban-rural disparities, institutional capacity, and socio-cultural factors in the context of local governance and progress towards SDG 16.6. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(8), 1173-1199.

Omweri, F. S. (2024). A systematic literature review of e-government implementation in developing countries: examining urban-rural disparities, institutional capacity, and socio-cultural factors in the context of local governance and progress towards SDG 16.6. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(8), 1173-1199.

Panday, P. K., & Chowdhury, S. (2020). Responsiveness of local government officials: insights and lessons from participatory planning and budgeting. Asia pacific journal of public administration, 42(2), 132-151. https://doi.org/10.1080/23276665.2020.1742753

Papamichail, G., Rosiello, A., & Wield, D. (2023). Addressing public policy implementation challenges in lagging regions through the analytical lens of smart specialisation. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 14(1), 356-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00874-y

Prakosos, R. D. Y. (2025). The Role of Civic Engagement and E-Government in Enhancing Accountability and Transparency in Metropolitan City Management. Journal of Contemporary Administration and Management (ADMAN), 3(2), 668-676. https://doi.org/10.61100/adman.v3i2.284

Rhamadhani, R. F., & Edeh, F. O. (2024). Citizen Participation and Digital Governance in Public Sector Accountability. Sinergi International Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 2(4), 200-210. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijat.v2i4.715

Roy, J. (2017). Digital government and service delivery: An examination of performance and prospects. Canadian Public Administration, 60(4), 538-561. https://doi.org/10.1111/capa.12231

Sabani, A. (2021). Investigating the influence of transparency on the adoption of e-Government in Indonesia. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 12(2), 236-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-03-2020-0046

Sadik-Zada, E. R., Gatto, A., & Niftiyev, I. (2024). E-government and petty corruption in public sector service delivery. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 36(12), 3987-4003. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2022.2067037

Sheoran, S., & Vij, S. (2022). A Review of E-Government Assessment Frameworks: E-Readiness, Adoption, Citizen Engagement and Quality: E-Readiness, Adoption, Citizen Engagement and Quality. JeDEM-eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government, 14(2), 197-213. https://doi.org/10.29379/jedem.v14i2.717

Sulistya, A. Q. W., Sulistiyo, B. B., Aditya, F., Aritonang, I. D., Simangunsong, S. A., Shihab, M. R., & Ranti, B. (2019, July). A case study of Indonesian government digital transformation: Improving public service quality through E-government implementation. In 2019 5th International Conference on Science and Technology (ICST) (Vol. 1, pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICST47872.2019.9166234

Tejedo-Romero, F., & Araujo, J. F. F. E. (2020). E-government-enabled transparency: The effect of electoral aspects and citizen’s access to Internet on information disclosure. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 17(3), 268-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2020.1713958

Waddington, H., Sonnenfeld, A., Finetti, J., Gaarder, M., John, D., & Stevenson, J. (2019). Citizen engagement in public services in low‐and middle‐income countries: A mixed‐methods systematic review of participation, inclusion, transparency and accountability (PITA) initiatives. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 15(1-2), e1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1025

Wahyudi, S., Yusup, A., & Perdana, M. R. (2025). Analysis of digital transformation of public administration in improving the effectiveness of government services in Indonesia. Jurnal Konseling dan Pendidikan, 13(3), 574-585.

Xu, X., & Dai, M. (2024). Evaluation of local government digital governance ability and sustainable development: a case study of Hunan province. Sustainability, 16(14), 6084. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146084

Zubir, M. H. H., & Abdul Latip, M. S. (2024). Factors affecting citizens’ intention to use e-government services: assessing the mediating effect of perceived usefulness and ease of use. Transforming government: People, process and policy, 18(3), 384-399. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-04-2023-0040

Downloads

Published

2025-02-22

How to Cite

E-Government Performance in Developing Countries: A Comparative Study Across Cities. (2025). Asian Digital Governance Problems, 3(1), 34-51. https://doi.org/10.71435/689220