Smart Government Success Factors

Abstract

Smart information and communication technologies are finding their way into public administration. Today, there are numerous initiatives in the public sector, promising a new model for the public services: smart government. In this article, we seek to identify success factors for smart government initiatives. We provide a selected review of the current literature on the motivations, goals, and processes behind smart government so as to provide a conceptual and analytical basis for the analysis. Based on desk research, interviews, and workshops, our qualitative analysis reveals institutional (political commitment, clear governance, legal agility, digital awareness, and IT infrastructure), organizational (structure and processes, capabilities, values, and human resources), and leadership/strategy success factors that must be considered when implementing smart government initiatives. We discuss our findings and conclude by emphasizing the limitations as well as implications for praxis and future research.