Exploring the complexities of e‐government implementation and diffusion in a developing country : Some lessons from the State of Qatar

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically the complexities of e‐government implementation and diffusion from a developing country perspective. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical case study using an interview‐based research agenda is adopted. After reviewing the extant literature on e‐government, the paper first proposes a conceptual model, which is consequently used to explore empirically, within the State of Qatar, the key challenges influencing e‐government implementation and diffusion from organisational, technological, social and political perspectives. Findings – The conceptual model proposed in this study offers a comprehensive overview of the implementation and diffusion challenges of e‐government through identifying various factors associated with organisational, technological, social and political perspectives from the literature. Through adopting an empirical research strategy focusing on developing countries that are not in an advanced state of e‐government development, this study offers a holistic view in understanding e‐government implementation and diffusion complexities for the benefit of similar countries. Research limitations/implications – This research only focuses on exploring empirically the implementation and diffusion challenges facing e‐government in one developing country and does not investigate how these challenges may influence citizens' adoption of these services in that country or in a wider context. Practical implications – The conceptual model in this study offers practitioners, policy makers and researchers a comprehensive overview of the implementation and diffusion challenges of e‐government projects, particularly in developing countries. The key findings of this study show that, irrespective of strong financial support and resources, governments must be prepared to tackle a number of challenges related to the complexity of e‐government implementation and diffusion. In addition, the study indicates that better alignment of national ICT strategies with various local level e‐government projects, clear legislation, implementation guidelines and standards are imperative for e‐government success. Originality/value – The core contribution of this research adds to the growing body of knowledge concerning the implementation and diffusion of e‐government in developing countries. In particular, the conceptual model formulated through the synthesis of extant literature offers researchers and practitioners a lens to better appreciate the key challenges that require consideration when implementing and diffusing e‐government.