Modeling the Barriers Surrounding Digital Government Implementation: Revealing Prospect Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Digital government (DG) is key to more efficient, transparent, and successful governance processes in meeting beneficiaries’ demands. However, its implementation challenges traditional conceptions. This research study aims at modeling barriers surrounding DG implementation in Saudi Arabia. The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach was followed. Thirteen barriers to DG implementation were identified and used to collect DG experts’ opinions on the barriers. The developed model classifies the barriers based on their dependence and driving powers and reveals interrelationships among them on multiple levels. Key findings showed that institutional habits are a foundational barrier affecting political coordination. Both, in turn, lead to ethical concerns and perceived barriers related to law, organizational practice, finances, and technological resources, which all lead to risk aversion and capacity and skills barriers, consequently resulting in a lack of engagement with and demand from users/citizens, a lack of awareness/strategic thinking, and legal framework issues, thereby resulting in technological infrastructure issues, difficulty articulating benefits to beneficiaries, and political management support and leadership barriers. Implications of the developed model include providing a better understanding of the contextual interrelationships between the barriers, which will, in turn, assist in fostering current implementation successes and opening prospects for future opportunities in Saudi Arabia.