Who is behind the scenes of the ICT backstage? A study of the ICT resources in local governments

Given the current trend for digitalisation, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been playing a central role in institutional performance and development. This centrality impacts local e-government plans and strategies, with consequences for service delivery and interaction and engagement with citizens. This work provides a characterisation of the ICT resources in Portuguese municipalities and allows to understand the internal conditions under which municipalities strive to follow the digital government trend, focusing specifically on the internal organisation and procedures and the profile of human resources performing ICT-related tasks. Globally, data show how important the ICT function is for the Portuguese municipalities and reveals the aspects for which greater attention should be devoted. The need for training programs, team building, and resources’ renewal is amongst the most prominent, on par with the importance of publicising and promoting the adoption of existing recommendations, instruments, tools, and services for a better knowledge, awareness and meaningful adoption and application.