IT assets, IT infrastructure performance and IT capability: a framework for e-government

Abstract

Purpose

Although government investments in IT is growing, it is unclear how and what kind of IT investments lead to desirable E-Government performance. Several studies pertaining to the business value of IT have developed and tested frameworks for IT infrastructure, IT capability and business performance. However, E-Government-related IT investment outcomes cannot be measured by profits and hence requires a separate investigation. E-Government research using theoretical approach has been reported as very scarce in previous studies. This research aims to bridge the gap by developing a model to study IT infrastructure capability and E-Government performance in the emerging context of new IT service delivery models.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows a case study method in this research with a priori conceptual framework. The data were collected following an interview method used for deductive theory building.

Findings

The results identified a positive relationship between IT assets and IT infrastructure performance in the presence of service delivery channels and an anticipation of a positive influence of infrastructure performance variables on IT capability which in turn shows positive effect on E-Government performance.

Research limitations/implications

Because the study followed a qualitative approach, the findings from this study are not useful for statistical generalization. However, the analytical framework provides sufficient ground to test E-Government performance.

Practical implications

The study provides insights in the choice of IT infrastructure elements fitting an E-Government strategy.

Social implications

This study provides an integrated framework for measuring E-Government performance, thereby making deployment of IT infrastructure accountable both in terms of IT performance and IT capability. This in turn will lead to improvement in citizen services.

Originality/value

This paper builds on the existing literature on IT assets, IT infrastructure performance, IT infrastructure capability and applies to the E-Government domain.

Citation

Dahiya, D. and Mathew, S.K. (2016), "IT assets, IT infrastructure performance and IT capability: a framework for e-government", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 411-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-07-2015-0031