Article Preview
Top1. Introduction
New Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been introduced in the government sector throughout the world in the past two decades in an attempt to achieve greater operational efficiency and effectiveness (O’Neill, 2009). Readiness for e-Government is not limited to the governmental organization. It is significant at the levels of society, economy, health, education, information policies, and other issues related to e-Government readiness (Alghamdi et al.,2011). While the literature adequately addresses these macro social and economic impacts of e-Government (Patel et al, 2012), limited studies examine main internal factors in the assessment of e-Government from an organizational perspective and how they lead to successful organizational e-government readiness (OEGR). The reality is that e-Government has several dimensions. Every dimension requires leadership, cross-coordination and knowledge, all integrated with an information technology strategy to achieve the actual action of the vision (Bakry, 2004).
Although there are several e-Readiness assessment tools, there are no fixed guidelines on how these tools can be applied effectively as models in implementing e-Government assessment in particular environments (Andersen, 2010). The design of e-Government readiness assessment models requires comprehensible measurement of the assessment design that determines factors clearly derived from information needs (ACM, 2008; APEC, 2000; CID, 2002).
Existing studies remain limited in assessing specific internal OEGR factors. They predominantly create their assessment of OEGR derived from a macro-level (national). On the other hand, only few studies pertain to the assessment OEGR on a micro-level (organization). Furthermore, those micro-level studies have limited focus on developing countries such as Saudi Arabia. Conversely, they are conducted on developed countries without validation of their suitability and applicability to developing contexts. As a result, government organizations are not being adequately equipped with models to evaluable the internal factors affecting OEGR. Therefore, the research question of this study focusses on:
What are the key factors influencing organisational e-Government readiness (OEGR) within the Public sector in Saudi Arabia?
Top2. Literature Review
In an attempt to address the research question, the study first undertakes a literature review of the main sources of Information Systems (IS), e-Commerce, e-Readiness, and e-Government readiness. It then focuses on the following areas i) perceptions of e-Government from its diverse viewpoints ii) e-Readiness evaluation models; and iii) e-Government studies and models assessments.
It is crucial to examine IS success to isolate its precise factors (Dörr etal., 2013). Most notably, the DeLone and McLean success model and the revised DeLone and McLean success model are among the most widely acceptable IS success models. Through the course of ten years of refinement, DeLone and McLean identified the significant issues leading to impact: System Use – Individual Impacts; System Quality – Individual Impacts; Information Quality – Individual Impacts (DeLone & McLean, 2003). All interdependencies have been confirmed except one which is System Use – Organizational Revenues (DeLone & McLean, 2003). DeLone and McLean refute Seddon’s (1999) criticism about the complexity of the Use particularly e-Commerce, arguing that systems use by costumers is necessary.