Internal and External Factors Impacting on E-Government Maturity: A Local Government Case Study

Abstract

Changes in Australian government policy, demands for cost cutting and funding initiatives, and promoting the use of the Internet have resulted in Australian local governments considering electronic service provision. Funding to support local e-Government developments however has been modest with only limited uptake of e-Commerce amongst local government agencies. Unlike higher levels of government framing an e-Government strategy, local government has other pressures that impact on the direction it takes with electronic service delivery. Research is needed to better understand the factors impacting on the move by local councils to electronic service delivery. This paper presents the findings from an ethnographic case study describing the decision making and development process of one local council’s move to e-Government, particularly electronic service delivery, and highlights the factors that have influenced the decisions made to implement e-Government initiatives.