New service development in e‐government: identifying critical success factors

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to suggest a model that incorporates critical factors contributing to the success in new service development (NSD) projects in electronic government (e‐government).

Design/methodology/approach After a brief introduction to e‐government and NSD in respect to models for successful implementation, the authors justify and build on the existing literature that advocates the use of critical success factors (CSFs) to study the implementation of these projects. They suggest a model that incorporates the determinants of success or failure for a new service through a set of variables.

Findings This paper proposes a framework, which is believed to help with the empirical research of CSF in NSD. The suggested framework attempts to bring experience in leadership and coordination of work theory and practice together by synthesising the existing literature with real‐life experience.

Research limitations/implications The paper contributes to the e‐government implementation literature in terms of suggesting a model that takes under consideration important CSF for implementing NSD.

Practical implications The projects a number of implications for public sector scholars as well as administrators. A vast amount of taxpayer money can be saved if decision makers can promptly identify potential waste of funds in prone‐to‐failure projects.

Originality/value The research aims at providing a better understanding of the underlying factors and dimensions that describe NSD in e‐government through the suggestion of a model that takes under consideration important CSF for implementing NSD. Therefore, it expands the scope of NSD research in e‐government context, stating the need for more research to be conducted regarding the NSD in e‐government using CSF. By identifying the potential success or failure of future projects a number of implications for public sector scholars as well as administrators comes to light.