From conventional governance to e-democracy: Tracing the evolution of e-governance research trends using network analysis tools

The knowledge trajectory and structure of the supply chain integration: a main path and cluster analysis

Purpose

Supply chain integration (SCI) dominates supply chain strategy and is receiving increasing academic attention. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the knowledge trajectory and structure of the SCI field.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 3,533 papers extracted from the Web of Science (WoS), this paper adopts the main path analysis (MPA) method to detect three distinct knowledge development trajectories. Coupling-based clustering is combined with MPA to reveal three critical subfields.

Findings

The findings show that the definition, content and dimensions of SCI lack unified conclusions. The influencing factors and performance consequences of SCI are long-standing research elements. Building theoretical models and integrated systems and applying blockchain technology to improve SCI are the key research contents. The intertwining of collaboration and SCI cannot be ignored, and the green SCI may be a hot topic in the future.

Research limitations/implications

This study explores knowledge in the SCI field based on the limited literature collected by WoS rather than all published papers. The omissions of some relevant papers and books may exist.

Practical implications

The study methodology provides a framework for similar studies in the future, and the results help researchers to get a comprehensive picture of the knowledge trajectory and structure of the SCI field.

Originality/value

Compared to existing reviews, MPA combines cluster analysis to develop a synthetic framework of the knowledge trajectory and structure in the SCI domain. It contributes to a systematic review of the development of SCI.

The evolution of e-government research over two decades: applying bibliometrics and science mapping analysis

Purpose

This study uses a bibliometric approach to analyze the overall status of e-government research by revealing patterns and trends that would help gain a broad understanding of global developments in the field and future directions.

Design/methodology/approach

All documents related to e-government published from 2000 to 2019 were extracted from the Scopus and the Digital Government Reference Library databases. Bibexcel, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer were used to perform the analyses and visualize the science mapping.

Findings

The results showed that 21,320 documents related to e-government research were published and cited 263,179 times. The annual growth rate of e-government research has reached 21.50%. The regression analysis showed that the growth rate is expected to increase gradually over the coming years. Despite the significant role that conference papers play in the e-government literature, the impact of articles far exceeds conference papers. The University of Albany (SUNY) has played an important role in e-government research in terms of production and impact. Furthermore, the study revealed some countries that are expected to play a prominent role in e-government research, as well as several topics that may attract more attention soon.

Originality/value

The results presented in this study and the comprehensive picture obtained about the e-government field make it an effective supplement to the expert evaluation. Thus, researchers, research managers, policymakers, institutions, funding agencies, and governments can rely on it.

Exploring the information quality of mobile government services: a literature review

This article aims to investigate the constructs that can be used to evaluate the information quality (IQ) of mobile government services. The dimension of IQ is one of the fundamental constructs that assesses the extent of information based on its accuracy, usefulness, and timeliness. Based on the review of previous studies, there is a lack of studies related to mGovernment service quality. It is not practical to measure the service quality of mGovernment by using other measurement scales such as e-service, e-commerce, or e-government. Therefore, it is necessary to understand each dimension that guides constructing a comprehensive framework to measure service quality at mGovernment. The constructs of information quality were extracted from previous literature in mobile government, mobile application service, and e-government to understand the development stages, structure, and unique features-this guide to conduct the systematic literature review to clarify the constructs belonging to the evaluation of information quality. The present article identified six constructs-understandability, timeliness, accuracy, completeness, availability, and usefulness-to measure the information quality of mobile government service. There is limited literature on mGovernment information service quality. With the development of government services on mobile devices, it is necessary to measure information quality at mGovernment service channel to understand users' expectations. The mGovernment service provider benefits from measuring the service quality by improving the strategy and criteria of information at mGovernment portal. In addition, the end-users expect to perform the service with the best quality level of the information supplied and displayed on mGovernment platform.

Categorizing and relating implementation challenges for realizing blockchain applications in government

Purpose

Blockchain technology (BCT) can be used for a wide variety of applications across domains and can bring many benefits. BCT-based applications can be beneficial for the government as well as businesses. Despite the many promises, BCT implementation lags behind. The purpose of this research is to identify a roadmap of critical implementation challenges that influence BCT implementation by governments.

Design/methodology/approach

The study develops an ISM-based model spread across seven levels to analyze the inter-relationship among the selected BCT challenges. The MICMAC analysis further helps in evaluating the variables based on their driving power and dependencies.

Findings

The findings show that all challenges have a strong impact on implementing BCT. The foundation for implementation BCT is to define standards and develop appropriate regulations. Next, the findings show the need for a shared infrastructure meeting the basic technical and societal requirements and developing viable business models to advance BCT implementation. Many challenges hinder the development of blockchain applications meeting the technical and ethical requirements.

Originality/value

Existing research has analyzed the relationship among challenges. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first paper to collate these implementation challenges and incorporate them to develop a hierarchical model using interpretive structural modeling technique. The results can be used to prioritize the tackling of the challenges.

Students’ Perceptions of the Sustainability of Distance Learning Systems in the Post-COVID-19: A Qualitative Perspective

The new Sustainable Learning and Education (SLE) concept was formulated in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations. In order to achieve SLE, educational bodies need to utilize new technologies. Notably, the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced educational institutions to utilize more innovative technological approaches to meet the objectives while still being in compliance with the doctrines of SLE. This research was conducted to explore the role of e-learning in transforming the academic industry in the post-COVID-19 time. The qualitative technique for interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was applied to closely examine the participants’ lived experiences. The respondents were chosen from a private university in Jordan, and data were acquired through semi-structured interviews. Quality education, ease of technology, instructor accessibility and the use of online learning resources were the dimensions used for e-learning adoption. The findings highlighted that the students were truly overwhelmed by joining online platforms, but a lack of immediate feedback discouraged them. Besides this, the study will be useful to educational institutions in Jordan and other developing nations in gaining a better understanding of students’ attitudes about e-learning adoption.

The Official Website as an Essential E-Governance Tool: A Comparative Analysis of the Romanian Cities’ Websites in 2019 and 2022

This paper aims to measure the quality of all Romanian cities’ websites in 2019 and 2022, before and after the disruptive event of COVID-19. Since the official websites are the core instrument of e-governance, the changes in the quality of Romanian cities’ websites reflect the changes in the development of urban e-governance in Romania. The COVID-19 lockdowns and contact restrictions and the moving of most activities into the online environment had the potential to impact the performance of Romanian cities’ websites significantly and catalyze the progress of local e-governance. The quality of Romanian cities’ official websites was measured using an adapted survey instrument proposed by Holzer and Kim and Manoharan, Melitski, and Holzer. The tool covers five critical criteria of website quality or performance: personal data security, usability, content, services, and citizen participation. The research results may seem contrary to expectations: the improvements of websites have been incremental rather than transformational. Although our research provides only a case study, we may assert that the reform of traditional administration remains a step-by-step process. Our study’s main contribution consists in showing that the progress of e-governance is an incremental process even in a situation of emergency that requires the moving of most activities into the online environment.

A Review of Digital Era Governance Research in the First Two Decades: A Bibliometric Study

The emergence of digital technologies has profoundly affected and transformed almost every aspect of societal relations. These impacts have also reached public administration, including its governance. Digital technologies’ rise has paved the way for the surfacing of a new public governance model called the Digital Era Governance (DEG) model (often referred to as e-government, digital government, e-governance, or digital governance) in which digital technologies play a central role. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and in-depth examination of DEG research over the past two decades. Bibliometric analysis is based on the Scopus database that contains 9175 documents published between 2001 and 2020. In this context, several established and innovative bibliometric approaches are applied. The results reveal the growth of DEG research over the last two decades, especially in recent years, as accelerated by several of the most relevant documents published in reputable journals such as Government Information Quarterly. Most DEG research has been conducted in Anglo-Saxon countries, as confirmed while examining the most relevant authors’ affiliations and collaborations. The results also indicate that DEG has advanced from conventional public services to citizen-oriented e-services by including citizens’ participation and, most recently, even to smart services by facilitating emerging and disruptive technologies. The findings add to the stock of scientific knowledge and support the evidence-based policymaking needed to successfully pursue a sustainable future.

E-participation decision across different channels

Purpose

This study focuses on understanding how channel features can affect people's intention to continue to use an electronic channel in public affairs and their recommendation behaviors. Specifically, three different channels are focused on: email, microblogs and online meetings.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model on an e-participation channel based on the channel-disposition framework was developed and an online survey was conducted to collect data from 397 individuals who used three e-participation channels to validate seven hypotheses.

Findings

The study found that information quality, channel interaction quality and the social appearance of other citizens all had a significant impact on users' intention to continue to use an electronic channel, which, in turn, affected their recommendation behaviors. However, the impact differed across the three e-participation channels. Information quality had a stronger impact on microblog and online meeting users' intention to continue to use these channels than on email users' intention to continue using email to participate in public affairs. Channel interaction quality had a stronger impact on email users' intention to continue to use email than on microblog and online meeting users' intention to continue to use these channels in public affairs.

Originality/value

This study helps better explain how various channels and their features can affect participants' use intentions and behaviors in e-participation. It also provides practical guidance for government to better manage e-participation channels and effectively engage citizens in public affairs.

A structural analysis approach to identify technology innovation and evolution path: a case of m-payment technology ecosystem

Purpose

The evolution of technology has become the mainstream of the current technological innovation era. Technological change is organized in its unique pattern and a new approach that takes place in a systematic and selective manner. Such change is generally molded with the amalgamation of various factors, namely, economic, social or scientific and technological. This paper aims to focus on identifying technological trajectories in a technological ecosystem with the case of m-payment technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This study constructs a patent citation network for mobile payment service technology through patent citation data and identifies the main evolution process using the main path analysis of the network. The scope of this study focuses on key innovation using social network analysis and patent citation network, validated using the case of a mobile payment system and analyzing its technological trajectory.

Findings

Analyzing technology evolution provides a greater insight of the overall technology landscape to the researcher and practitioner. Analyzing the m-payment technology landscape gives three main categories of m-payment systems: the mobile financial transaction system), the payee mobile device payment selection system and e-wallet services.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research lies in the process of identifying technological evolution using social network and patent citation network analysis. The case of m-payment technology ecosystem is studied quantitatively which is not explored by previous researchers. This research provides a way to develop the main path technology of innovative products or services to identify technology evolution using the case of m-payment landscape.

Blockchain e a Perspectiva Tecnológica para a Administração Pública: Uma Revisão Sistemática

RESUMO Objetivo a revisão sistemática desenvolvida neste artigo teve como objetivo apresentar as potenciais aplicações e consequências do uso da Blockchain para a administração pública. Método a partir da busca de artigos nas bases Scopus, Web of Science, SSRN e Science Direct, e seguindo o método PRISMA, foram selecionados 16 artigos que continham as temáticas: Blockchain, participação governamental direta ou como principal regulamentador, política pública. Resultados as principais aplicações encontradas foram referentes a: processamento de dados e segurança de dados públicos, novas propostas de regulamentação estatal e de organização institucional. Quanto aos impactos, destacam-se a melhoria na gestão dos dados, diminuição da burocracia e necessidade de afinar a relação entre Estado, sociedade e mercado. Conclusão a Blockchain apresenta-se como uma tecnologia capaz de renovar os processos de gestão, mas criando novos desafios à administração pública. Classificação JEL: O14, H83, L86.