Title:
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Experiencing e-Government : an action research study in Cyprus
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This study focuses on the field of e-government. In the current literature, egovernment
is defined as the use of information and communication technologies in
the public sector. Evidence suggested a problematic e-government in Cyprus, and
initially the study intended to investigate just that. Due to the emergent nature of the
research, the study's scope was expanded, and it intended to explore the reality of egovernment,
while expecting that private sector methods could be applicable and that
a change strategy could possibly emerge.
The philosophy driving the research was phenomenology, and a pure qualitative
stance was adopted. Action Research was employed as the methodology for the study,
based on its two-fold objective: to identify tools and ways in which e-govemment
could be eased, and to apply those in the public sector of Cyprus, as a form of
reflexive consultancy. Soft Systems Methodology was also flexibly used, and
provided for the foundation of the research strategy. Further, the main theoretical
foundations of the study have been the Learning Organisation and Systems Thinking.
Amongst others, the investigations revealed that the e-government concept is itself
problematic, and arguably indefinable, while the modernisation of public sector
depends on the actions of few key people who could initiate and lead the change until
its establishment. Also, the applicability of private sector theories out of context has
been tested, and is seen as having valuable contributions for the public sector domain.
Also, a change process appears to emerge, entailing concepts that can form basis for
future research.
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