Public Sector E-Government Conceptualization: The Case of Kenya

E-Government, launched in many African countries under the banner of New Public Management (NPM), was introduced to improve governance in the public sphere. This paper offers an exploratory analysis into the relationship between E-Government conceptualization and its intended impacts. The three independent research streams of technology transfer, information technology conceptualization and impacts are combined to assess how the expected impacts of E-Government influence the way in which policy makers and implementers in developing countries conceptualize E-Government. A survey sampled 77 respondents who have been involved in implementation of E-Government projects in Kenya. An initial factor analysis of the respondents' perceptions was undertaken to achieve data reduction of the indicators of the main constructs of impacts and conceptualization. A canonical correlation analysis was then used to explore the relationship between E-Government impacts and conceptualization. The findings support the view that there is a positive relationship between E-Government conceptualization and the expected impacts. At the very least, conceptualization of E-Government as a technical and evolving artifact is positively related to E-Government impact measures revolving around the formative constructs of connected government and the need for value-addition to current service offerings by the government.