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A socio-technical perspective on e-government issues in developing countries: a scientometrics approach

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Abstract

Many researchers have analyzed e-government literature as a whole or a specific area to focus on statistical methodologies, lessons learnt, or problem related to the area. However, no investigation from socio-technical perspective on e-government issues, in developing countries (DCs), has been carried out. Utilizing scientometrics approach, we analyzed and synthesized e-government (EG) literature that deals with the issues/topics in developing countries from the lens of socio-technical theory (STT). 145 articles from 7 core e-government journals published during the last decade were selected and reviewed for analyzing e-government literature related to developing countries. The growth pattern of e-government literature showed that e-government studies pertaining developing countries issues/topics have rapidly increased during the last decade; covering a range of topics/issues studied from socio-technical aspects. We found that e-government literature in developing countries has somewhat adopted a balanced approach and is moving away from a merely theoretical or conceptual bases toward an empirical foundation; however, the literature lacked depth and balance in terms of issues/topics discussed and methodologies applied. In the light of the findings, strengths, limitations, and future directions for e-government research in developing countries are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Media and Communication, YeungNam University, 214-1, Dae-dong, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea

    Gohar Feroz Khan

  2. Information Management and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University (SNU), Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Junghoon Moon

  3. Department of Media and Communication, YeungNam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea

    Han Woo Park

  4. School of Innovation, Global Information and Telecommunication Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Bobby Swar

  5. Department of Management Science, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Jae Jeung Rho

Authors
  1. Gohar Feroz Khan
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  2. Junghoon Moon
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  3. Han Woo Park
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  4. Bobby Swar
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  5. Jae Jeung Rho
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Correspondence to Junghoon Moon.

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Khan, G.F., Moon, J., Park, H.W. et al. A socio-technical perspective on e-government issues in developing countries: a scientometrics approach. Scientometrics 87, 267–286 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-010-0322-5

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