Collaborative Approach on Digital Government Transformation: In-Depth Analysis from Expert Interview

Abstract Digital transformation changes how private and public organisations conduct their business, stressing the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders. The public sector, especially local government, is forced by citizens’ demands to change how it operates. This research examines the characteristics of existing literature on collaborative governance and digital transformation and explores the unevenness of digital transformation due to the broad autonomy granted to local governments. Qualitative methods were used, conducting in-depth interviews, advanced observations, and detailed data collection from government agencies, NGOs, and citizens of West Java, Indonesia. The enquiries reveal that governments faces silos and fragmented approaches. The results contribute to the literature, serve as a reference for improving the role of local government in collaborative digital transformation, and provide greater legitimacy in the public policy process. In the context of local government, the success of digital transformation initiatives in West Java can be attributed to effective collaboration and facilitative leadership from implementing the Penta-helix strategy and establishing Jabar Digital Service (JDS) as a dedicated unit for managing digital transformation.