Strengthening digital inclusion through e-government: cohesive ICT training programs to intensify digital competency

Abstract

Governments around the globe are in a quest for successful e-government services. In this pursuit, one of the most significant barriers to e-government resilience is insufficient training. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of ICT training programs on the success of e-government services to improve digital competency along with decreasing the digital divide concerning developing societies. The pragmatic research process served as a baseline of this study, and a quasi-experimental research approach was implemented for testing the control group. The results of e-government training revealed a significant increase in the trainees’ self-efficacy regarding the use of e-government applications. This study proved that e-government ICT training programs directed at citizens can create a positive impact in conjunction with increasing digital literacy. Such training programs could also lessen the digital divide, enrich citizens’ potential, and promote more equitable usage of public services in developing societies.