Annotated Bibliography

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION (IJM&P) http://www.ijmp.jor.br v. 9, n. 2, April - June 2018 ISSN: 2236-269X DOI: 10.14807/ijmp.v9i2.699

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A COMPLEX SYSTEMS APPROACH TO E-GOVERNANCE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION IN BAYELSA STATE,

NIGERIA

Gordon Monday Bubou National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Nigeria

E-mail: [email protected]

Richard Bunakiye Japheth Niger Delta University, Nigeria E-mail: [email protected]

Seigha Gumus

Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria E-mail: [email protected]

Submission: 20/07/2017

Accept: 06/03/2018

ABSTRACT

Globally, public sector innovation has become a big issue as citizens

demand for greater accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in

service delivery, and the liberalisation of the governance system.

Debate on e-government evolved in the last decade in parallel with a

broader discussion on e-governance, where the concept and practice

of e-governance further encompasses the e-government

phenomenon. Because of the complexities of governance and e-

governance, this chapter presents e-governance as a close, large

integrated, open and sociotechnical (CLIOS) framework to meet

present and emerging challenges of the e-world, as well as enhance

good governance for sustainability. Novel descriptions of e-

governance, governance, CLIOS, complex adaptive systems,

sociotechnical systems were provided from literature. From a socio-

technical perspective, the design consideration for the adoption and

implementation of e-governance architecture for a State in an

emerging economy like Nigeria was provided.

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INDEPENDENT JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION (IJM&P) http://www.ijmp.jor.br v. 9, n. 2, April - June 2018 ISSN: 2236-269X DOI: 10.14807/ijmp.v9i2.699

The contextual aspects that needed to be considered for the adoption of e-

governance were discussed and citizens interface with governance through e-

governance platforms were highlighted. Examples of countries implementing e-

governance, benefits and challenges regarding the Bayelsa case were discussed.

Keywords: sociotechnical system; e-governance; complex and adaptive systems; good governance; public sector innovation; Bayelsa State; Nigeria

1. INTRODUCTION

Globally, advancements in technology, especially information communications

technologies (ICTs) have led to an overwhelming growth in connectivity and

interdependence among economic and social (as well as political) systems

(WILLIAMS, 2014). Additionally, the dynamics of globalization and the rise, first of

the information society, regarded as the third wave of economic transformation

(HUANG; YEO; TRAUT, 2006) and later, the knowledge-based (KBE) economy,

have important implications for latecomer emerging economies like Nigeria.

There are multiple drivers of the aforementioned phenomenon – one of them

being the way in which society is becoming more complex and unpredictable in both

positive and challenging ways (MISURACA, 2007).

The complexities are increasingly felt in the business, political, scientific,

technological, health, environmental and sociocultural arenas. Similarly, the role of

government in the society is undergoing fast and continuous change which appears

to have accelerated in the last two decades largely due to widespread adoption of

ICTs on one hand, and the growing processes of state liberalization and economic

globalization on the other (MISURACA, 2012).

The emerging ICT for development approach towards public sector

transformation is creating new perceptions about government and governance

(GEBBA; ZAKARIA, 2012). It therefore requires governments to foster innovation by

reforming their public-sector innovation systems (ROBACK, 2006).

DAVIDRAJUH (2003) supported that one objective of any government to

utilize ICTs is basically to develop the economy and improve the quality of life and

provide to all the citizens. Indeed, ICTs have influenced socioeconomic growth and

catalyzed entire workplace cultural shifts both in the developing and developed

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worlds. Consequently, governments have derived maximal benefits from adopting

ICT into governance structures, resulting to governance efficiency, effectiveness of

service delivery and the provision of wider information access to the governed.

However, the management of technological change, that will benefit the society

requires cooperation among different actor groups (ROBACK, 2006).

Misuraca (2007) said, the complexities of today’s world stems from its

networked nature and the growing phenomenon of the involvement of non-state or

non-governmental actors into policy-making arena. The author added that such

involvements assume consultative bases or by way of participatory approaches

enabled by ICTs. Incidentally, governments all over the globe are adopting

multifaceted approaches towards the realization of the above objectives. But here, a

complex, large-scale, interconnected, open, sociotechnical (CLIOS) framework of the

e-governance architecture is presented. Within the CLIOS framework, we adopt a

sociotechnical systems (STS) approach to e-governance considering people and

technology, two highly interconnected components of a single system as it is

applicable to the study of the relationships and interactivities between the social and

technical structures of e-government and e-governance. It is noteworthy that, the

systems analysis approach has been used to study several civilian problems such as

housing, health care, education, poverty and transportation (LARACY, 2007).

At the core of the CLIOS are the concepts of complex adaptive systems

(CAS) and STS. CAS thinking has applications in several disciplines including

physics, biology, economics and political science. Governance itself is said to be a

complex yet universal force existing in every society (MISURACA, 2007). For

example, governance as a complex system consists of other sub-systems like –

socio-economic system, political system, institutional system, and organizational

system, each with its inherent complexities. We thus view governance as a

sociotechnical phenomenon where basic social constructs like citizen, infrastructure,

team, and governance require support from ICT applications. We equally propose

here that policymakers understand the ‘Governance Dynamics’ for effective decision

making.

The liberalization of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector in 2001 led to

phenomenal diffusion of ICTs in several spheres and regions with diverse

applications. It opened up the space for governments at all levels to adopt e-

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government. Bayelsa State is one of the thirty-six states of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria that was created in 1996. Being at the infancy stage of e-government has

begun the adoption of e-government by establishing an E-Governance Bureau but

lacked the ability for efficient diffusion to all parties involved.

The Bayelsa State government with the transformation agenda of the present

state governor, the state been at the entry stage of ICT into government in

digitalizing the services of the state activities to interact with and amongst

government, government agencies/ministries, citizens and businesses. But

unfortunately, the pace of adoption is very slow and indicates a non-ready state.

The E-Governance and Due Process Bureau (EGDB) which was established

in 2009 is yet to fully comprehend the expanse of work expected to achieve for an e-

ready state and for the adoption and implementation of an e-governance. The

possible effect of this is that the government is yet to adhere to the principles of

‘people first’ using ICT technological innovations to improve service delivery to assist

in the administration or management of government, and to provide services in

support of government operations (VISSER; TWINOMURINZI, 2008).

The study examines the capacity of the Bayelsa State government to

effectively harness ICT as an enabler in its efforts to meet present and emerging

challenges of the e-world, as well as enhance good governance for sustainability.

The aim will be to describe the methodology used to implement the CLIOS

framework of the e-government system. Equally, while some studies have been

carried out on e-governance in developing countries (AL ALTHMAY, 2012; AWAN;

AMIN; KIRKBY, 2013; CHOWDHURY; SATTER, 2013; GEBBA; ZAKARIA, 2012;

NKWE, 2012; MISURACA, 2007; SHAHWAN, 2010), studies looking at e-

governance in developing countries from a CLIOS perspectives are rare. This

chapter is intended to fill that gap.

2. REVIEW OF RELATED MATERIALS

The information revolution has modified the global context in such a manner

that it is so overwhelming to most developing countries who are also lacking in

technological dynamism and the capacities for adapting to changes in the global

socio-economic and political environment. Since the advent of computers, and more

recently the internet, pressure on governments to perform better has increased, and

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information and communication technologies (ICTs) have provided them with the

capacity to do so via electronic (e) -government (OECD, 2003).

2.1. E-Government and E-Governance

The concept of e-government is touted to have emerged against the backdrop

of the global transition towards the KBE (HUANG et al., 2006). Nevertheless,

CURTIN (2007) claims that, while the use of ICT in government can be traced to the

1950s, its diffusion to developing countries has been slow not until this 21st century.

Luckily, the growing role of ICT in facilitating and expediting economic, social,

cultural and political development is now being understood by most of developing

countries (GEBBA; ZAKARIA, 2012). African governments in particular have also

understood and appreciated the contribution of e-government to the government

agenda (NKWE, 2012).

During the last decade, ICT has had a major influence on incrementally

changing and shifting traditional and bureaucratic government models into a more

accessible and transparent model, where services are delivered according to

citizens’ needs (AL-SHAFI; WEERAKKODY, 2010).

In this context, many countries have now transformed their traditional

government processes into an e-enabled state where key services are delivered

online using the ICT facilities offered by the internet. CURTIN (2007) claims that,

ICTs have enabled governments to operate more effectively and transparently,

providing more and better information and services to the public, and facilitates the

participation of individuals, businesses and groups throughout society in their own

governance.

This mode of online service delivery is commonly referred to as e-government

(AL-SHAFI; WEERAKKODY, 2010; CURTIN, 2007). It characterizes efforts to use

ICTs for political purposes and the organization of political activity in a country

(GANT, 2008). Thus, e-government refers to the use of ICTs by government

agencies at different levels to redesign and transform relations between

governments and businesses, governments and citizens (G2C), different

government agencies (G2G), and government to employees (G2E) (HUANG et al.,

2006; KUMAR, 2011). Nevertheless, e-government differs from e-governance.

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While e-governance is based on four processes – namely, electronic

consultation, electronic controllership, electronic engagement and networked societal

guidance – conversely, e-government refers to the structure that is responsible for

electronic service delivery, electronic workflow, electronic voting and electronic

productivity (AWAN et al., 2013).

But the concept of e-governance which co-evolved with e-government was

initially considered the technological component of Public Administration Reform

later emerged as a greater societal challenge as well as a mechanism for more than

just improvement of administrative services or user satisfaction, but as something

that promotes deeper forms of democracy (MISURACA, 2012).

E-governance fundamentally differs from e-government in that, it is a wider

concept going beyond the simple provision of services through the use electronic

mean by building an external interaction with diverse stakeholders in the external

environment (AL ATHMAY, 2012).

It encompasses the utilization of ICTs to interact with and provide services to

businesses, citizens and other governments with the intent to improve transparency,

increase public service efficiency and deepen democracy (AWAN et al. 2013),

thereby bringing about changes in the way citizens relate to governments and to

each other.

Kaye (2011) cited a 2000 work of Black as broadly describing governance as

the intentional activity of attempting to control, order or influence the behavior of

others. Kaye therefore concluded that governance covers cover multiple actors,

activities that can be enacted or carried out through a number of different

mechanisms. She distinguished it from regulation that is narrower in scope and

applies just to the formal structures of law and legally constituted regulatory bodies.

Misuraca (2007) provided an African perspective of e-governance that was

captured within the framework of the e-Africa Initiative for Good Governance:

Building e-governance capacity in African countries – it defines e-governance as:

“the use of ICTs, and especially the Internet, to adopt a new conception and attitude

of governing and managing where participation and efficiency are required of all the

partners linked in a network: e-governance is therefore a new way of coordinating,

planning, formulating and implementing decisions and operations related to

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governance problems. Government can utilize e-governance to re-invent

themselves, get closer to the citizenry and forge closer alliances and partnerships

with diverse communities of interest, practice, expertise, conviction and inter-

dependence within the context of national and international development agendas”.

(2007:29)

The overall process of e-governance is said to be much more complex and

requires multiple factors to be taken into account (AWAN et al. 2013).

2.2. ICTs, Technological Change, Complex Adaptive Systems, and Sociotechnical Systems

ICT consists of all technical means used to handle information and aid

communication, ranging from computers (desktop, PC, tablets, blogs, social media,

cell phones, etc.). Information technology (IT) as part of general ICT family is

credited with enormous improvements in personal productivity, efficiency in

communication, elimination of tedium in workplace, introduction of an element of

democracy in communication across levels of hierarchy as well as creation of new

modes of interaction among employees (KORUKONDA, 2012).

Likewise, by innovating the public sector with the adoption ICTs, government

agencies transform relations with citizens, business and other arms of government in

the delivery of services thereby supporting good governance (CHOWDURY;

SATTER, 2013).

The most fruitful lesson gained by recent research is that technological

change should be explored within the social fabric in which the innovative activities

are actually developed and used (ARCHIBUGI; MICHIE, 1997:122). It requires an

understanding of the interactions between technology and the social, ecological,

economic, cultural, political and governance systems within society (MARINOVA,

2009).

Technological innovations are complex processes, involving a multitude of

technological and social factors (SUURS, 2009). Technological systems (like ICT

systems) consist of dynamic knowledge and competence networks (SUURS, 2009)

and seem to be narrowed down to social systems.

As the society, particularly the public sector continues to innovate, pushing

towards increased integration leveraging on the advances in ICT, it bridges the

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communication barriers and empowers citizens to participate more actively in the

governance of their countries. However, Porter (2013) claims – innovation and

imagination are the stuff of great scientific, sociological, and economic

breakthroughs, which is also true for governments and militaries. E-governance

adoption is a part of the broader ICT innovation systems.

Therefore, like technological innovation systems, they are STS focused on the

development, diffusion and use of a particular technology, in this case, ICTs, and are

typically defined by their constituting structural elements (HILLMAN; NILSSON;

RICKNE; MAGNUSSON. 2009).

STS include a social system, the institutional setting and the technology

(BUBOU; EJIM-EZE; OKRIGWE, 2012). STS is a complex system in which social

and technical sub-systems influence one another through feedback loops

(HOLLNAGEl, 2002 in MAIO, 2014), producing emergent system behavior, and

where the relationship between social and technical components are constantly

redefined and evolve adaptively and dynamically.

It typically recognizes the interaction between people and technology, while in

computer science and engineering is an approach to develop functional jointly

optimized whole systems (MAIO, 2014). The resulting sociotechnical transition is the

connection between governance arrangements and the functionality of the

innovation system, i.e. how well the functions are served (HILLMAN et al., 2011).

Holland (1992) opined that most of the social, ecological, and biological

systems that contain a large number of interacting autonomous agents can be

considered as CAS as the actors or entities have adaptive capacities to the changing

environment.

Complex systems embody some key characteristics critical to understanding

the role of technology in the context of society (BLAIR; NIETO-GOMEZ; SITTERLE,

2013) and governance. Complex networks are referred to as 'adaptive' or 'dynamic,'

because they are self-organizing; constantly changing their interrelationships based

upon the needs of individual agents and environmental impacts (PORTER, 2013).

This makes multi-agent approach very effective for tackling the complexity of e-

governance systems (KUMAR, 2011)

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BIBIKAS; KOURTESIS; PARASKAKIS; BERNARDI; SAUERMANN;

APOSTOLOU et al. (2008) tension between the social and technical infrastructures

can be difficult to harmonies, however. The mutual constitutive role of people and

technology in society will lead to continuous negotiation procedure between these

elements. Technical infrastructures affect societal behavior, while social structures

shape technology’s functionality.

2.3. E-governance is a CLIOS

According to MISURACA (2007), based on the conceptual framework and

considering that any complex issue will quite quickly bring complex issues to deal

with. As earlier stated, not only the technology behind the concept is complex,

governance itself is a complex phenomenon. Complex adaptive systems involving

humans are said to be typically linked across a variety of arenas – diplomatic,

infrastructure, and military, economic (PHISTER, 2011), social, political and cultural.

In order to determine whether e-government was CLIOS or not, SEKER (2004) first

of all looked at PINCH’s 1987 definition of a large technological systems: “they

contain messy, complex, problem-solving components; socially constructed and

society shaping; contains: artefacts, groups, processes, laws, and natural resources;

system components are interactive and interdependent; components are created

and developed by ‘system builders”. SEKER asserted further that e-government is

an extremely complex system from the view of a citizen.

From SEKER’s conclusion, one can adduce that e-governance which is

considered even more complex than e-governance is a CLIOS as it possesses all

the attributes listed in Pinch’s definitions. For instance, DOSKEY; MAZZUCHI;

SARKANI (2013) view the United States’ Federal Government as the largest and

most complex entity in the world. They maintain that complex systems and systems

engineering (SE) are inextricably woven and therefore sought to identify patterns

present in systems engineering activity when government organization acquire and

build complex information systems.

E-governance integrates the human and the human side of technology by

integrating people, processes, information, cultural, and environment in achieving the

governance objectives (AL ATHMAY, 2012).

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Similarly, SHAHWAN (2010) argues that e-governance should be viewed from

a ‘Systems Theory’ perspective, in which it is an input that is moderated or modified

by a number of variables that constitute the contextual process in the course of

which other variables interact and impact this input to produce the desired output. In

our case, the anticipated outputs are – good governance (transparency and

accountability, inclusive development, governance efficiency and infrastructural

service delivery).

MISURACA (2012) also stressed the need to take into account the complex

system and self-reflective nature of intervening variables involved in social systems

(MISURACA, 2012). Some such variables were listed technological change and

technical infrastructure, democratic political system, good economy, effective legal

system, open culture, educational system that fosters innovation, and quality

manpower (SHAHWAN, 2010).

As a CLIOS, e-governance depends of ICT infrastructure which will in turn

depend on availability of electricity. ICT will have to be integrated with order legacy

infrastructural systems like electricity, which are in themselves complex systems.

Likewise, although, electricity itself depends on certain ICT applications to functions

properly, it equally depends on the energy system, specifically – availability of gas. A

typical e-governance as CLIOS of Bayelsa State is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: CLIOS representation of E-governance in Bayelsa State

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3. BAYELSA STATE’S E-GOVERNANCE STRATEGY

It is observed that e-government is the precursor to e-governance. It suggests

that the requisite infrastructure, both human and technological has to be established

alongside the institutional framework supporting it.

Buoyed by the relative success recorded at the national level, the State

attempted her e-government drive. For example, Nigeria established a National

Information Communication Telecommunications Policy and a National Broad Plan:

2013 – 2018. This was in addition to so many agencies set up to articulate the whole

strategy of e-governance adoption in the country.

Although, Nigeria still performed poorly, ranked 141 out of the 193 countries in

the United Nations E-Government Survey 2014, it is said to have made a big lift from

the previous 169th position. In a bid to achieve this objective, the Bayelsa State

government set up the E-Governance and Due Process Bureau through the

instrumentally of the State Legislature. The State equally acquired part equity in an

indigenous telecommunication company that wa providing broadband internet

services.

The EGDB controls the central data base providing web servicing to all

ministries departments. However, local governments and nearly all the ministries are

yet to have functional websites. The Bureau initiated the procurement for computers

for all offices in the various ministries and started a phased training program for staff.

Pivotal in the e-governance strategy of the State is its new status as been

designated as a “Smart State”. The State in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of

Telecommunication has planned a massive roll-out of ICT center across the nooks

and crannies of the State.

The long-term of the Smart State initiative is to make Bayelsa State a global

ICT hub. Additionally, a state-wide area network (SWAN) utilizing WCDMA

connectivity of the jointly owned telecoms is also planned to link up all local

government areas, and government offices to a Collectorate (that is where the

SWAN acts as the node) is to be established. In addition to the above SWAN, four

GSM service providers already had setup transmission base stations across in all

the major towns and villages of the state, except for the very remote rural

communities.

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3.1. Design Considerations

The design considerations of e-governance are as discussed below. Since the

STS functionality is optimized only when there is synergy and collaboration between

people, technology and the environment, tasks and processes and the whole system

design must be devised taking into account the three and their interactions (MAIO,

2014).

Technology diffusion is an important determinant of the rate of success e-

governance adoptions. For e-governance adoption to be useful, the contexts within

which and the users’ group that interface with the e-governance architecture need to

be understand. Specifically, wider adoption of ICTs in Bayelsa State or any region

will facilitate quick and faster adoption of e-governance.

SAHU; GUPTA; SAHOO (2004) argued that e-governance acceptance has

become an issue for consideration. Referred to as the rapid diffusion of the e-

governance projects, which derives actual level of uses by end-users, e-governance

acceptance varies from users’ group to group (and from context to context). Another

factor common with complex systems is interoperability. This is the ease with which

the different systems and subsystems interact with one another. Social

requirements are often seen to be neglected in the process of designing and

implementing organizational knowledge management solutions (BIBIKAS et al.,

2008). Incidentally, most critical system failures often said to occur for “non-

technical” reasons, despite flawless technical implementations, due to human

(cognitive and behavioral) and socio technical factors (GIESE et al. 2009 as cited by

MAIO, 2014).

3.2. Benefits of E-Governance

GUPTA (2004) explains that e-governance offers opportunities to transform

both the mechanics of government (as in e-government) and the nature of

governance itself. It equally offers new ways for improving government processes,

connecting citizens and building interactions with civil society (CHOWDHURY;

SATTER, 2013). E-governance has become the slice of life for citizens of most

countries grappling with government policies, their implementation and finally the

outcomes towards the betterment of their lives (SAHU et al., 2004).

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In the developing countries, service at doorsteps through ICT is vital not only

to establish a democratic and transparent government, but also to fight against

poverty (CHOWDURY; SATTER, 2013). It reinforces the potential to better utilize

public resources resulting in improved public service delivery, enable citizens better

access services, reach out to the vulnerable parts of the population and foster open

government – without losing sight of the necessary focus of efficiency and

effectiveness (OECD, 2010).

For instance, in India, e-governance is one application area where IT has

made considerable progress and it offers vast potential to provide good governance

by enhancing transparency and reducing corruption, increasing revenue while

reducing cost (both for citizens and government) (GUPTA, 2004). It is said to have

made relevant improvements in many sectors using about 850 projects involving

government ministries, agencies and the private sector.

The transformation of the public sector by the instrumentality of e-governance

is said to serve a variety of different ends – improving interactions with business and

industry, and citizen empowerment through access to information BONHAM et al (in

HUANG et al., 2006). In the particular case of Bayelsa, e-governance has facilitated

the procurement and tax administration processes. Citizens and businesses can

quite easily process their tax documents using online platforms provided. They can

also view their tax records using a unique tax identification number (TIN), using the

same platform. This ease of tax administration has contributed to increase in

internally generated revenues to the State. Equally, contractors and consultants to

the state government can download the specified forms, fill them and forward same

to the relevant ministries or extra ministerial department through the EGDB.

E-governance is also bringing improvements to maintenance of security. With

the application of closed-circuit televisions which are monitored real time, activities of

criminals of have been brought under control in certain trouble spots of the capital

city of Yenagoa. Equally, a wider application of e-governance will be of ecological

benefits, reduce the environmental footprint of the State as less hardcopy (paper)

documents will be used. This will also bring in savings to the State as government

spending on printing reduces.

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3.3. Challenges of E-Governance Adoption and implementation in Bayelsa State

In as much as countries enjoy benefits of e-governance, it is not without some

glitches. More so, as it is STS, there are challenges of adoption and implementation

of e-governance. For instance, different actors have different incentives and there is

often a lack of agreement on what will give the most benefit (ROBACK, 2006).

VISSER; TWINOMURINZI (2008) argue that the effectiveness of e-

government towards improving service delivery is littered with failure stories and

despite the failures have not stopped most governments from increasingly turning to

ICT, most notably internet based models, as the preferred channel for citizen-

centered and business-centered service delivery.

Nonetheless, GEBBA; ZAKARIA (2012) claim, that the reliability of an e-

government strategy can be the difference between success and failure of the whole

effort. Hence, approaching e-governance from a CLIOS perspective will go a long

way in addressing the systemic and structural challenges encumbering the adoption

of e-governance in developing regions. Sometimes, failures associated with ignoring

social, political, economic, and institutional elements are catastrophic (LARACY,

2007). Therefore, in most systems, functional performance depends on the

interaction of people and technologies, whereby the correct functioning of systems

depends largely on interactions with stakeholders (MAIO, 2014).

Again, e-governance is a relatively new concept and its implementations in

developing countries are generally more problematic in comparison to those in the

developed nations (CHOWDHURY; SATTER, 2013; GEBBA; ZAKARIA, 2012).

KUMAR (2011) maintains there are several types of problems in e-

governance like i) interoperability and service integration within information system;

ii) semantics differences related to the scattered, heterogeneous data; iii) Lack of

sharing of existing data; and iv) Lack of knowledge base system in the middleware.

Also, NKWE (2012) highlighted the challenges of e-governance in Botswana

to include: low level of internet penetration; telecommunications infrastructure

constraints; Lack of institutional framework supporting e-government; Lack of

allocated budget for e-government deployment; Digital divide; Privacy and security

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INDEPENDENT JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION (IJM&P) http://www.ijmp.jor.br v. 9, n. 2, April - June 2018 ISSN: 2236-269X DOI: 10.14807/ijmp.v9i2.699

concerns; Limited IT skills and training; Culture; Lack of citizen awareness and

participation.

The challenges of e-governance in Bayelsa State are not different from those

experienced by developing regions. They are both physical/technical to social,

ranging from inadequate basic infrastructure to lack of ICT skills, illiteracy, etc. Of all

the challenges, that of broadband connectivity is greatest. It has less the 20%

coverage which is far cry from what is required. Another one is that of illiteracy,

including technology ineptitude.

3.4. Possible Solutions to the Challenges of E-Governance Adoption and implementation

AL ATHMAY (2013) enthuses that successful implementation of e-governance

requires the movement from a passive information society to an active engagement

of citizens. This means mass mobilization of the populace to buy-into government’s

initiatives of e-governance.

Again, for e-governance to be effective, SHAHWAN (2010) maintains, it has to

be integrated within a holistic approach that includes a supportive and democratic

leadership, a viable communication infrastructure, highly qualified personnel to

operate the new technology, an open educational system that encourages innovation

and creativity and a credible legal system to protect the individual against the

invasion of privacy. Civil society is another stakeholder group that is strategic to the

successful implementation of e-governance initiative because of their wider reach

and their grassroots orientations.

3.5. Future research

No doubt, e-governance has become a viable option inclusive for

development. It is become more and popular with development countries and

regions. Equally, the complexity of governance has been established. One

phenomenon sweeping across nations is the preponderance of social media as a

veritable platform for reaching out to the large population.

Governments and private persons have found it useful to interact through

social media. In fact, the Bayelsa State government has a dedicated social media

outfit headed by Senior Special Assistant reporting directly to the Governor. Besides

the websites of the different ministries and extra-ministerial departments, the Social

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INDEPENDENT JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION (IJM&P) http://www.ijmp.jor.br v. 9, n. 2, April - June 2018 ISSN: 2236-269X DOI: 10.14807/ijmp.v9i2.699

Media Team collates government activities and policies and broadcasts them to the

public on a regular basis. Citizens send queries through the media ad get feedback

in turn. We would like to propose here that policymakers understand the

‘Governance Dynamics’ for effective decision making.

Like STERMAN’S (2002) reference to ‘business dynamics’ governance

dynamics should be concerned with learning in and about the complex systems of

governance. It means, policymakers embrace system thinking to expand the

boundaries of their mental models and develop ways to understand how the

structure of complex systems creates behavior.

For a successful e-government adoption and implementation in Bayelsa State,

the state will have to be e-ready and the citizens’ level of technology acceptance with

respect to e-governance has to be high too. Consequently, further research on e-

readiness, technology acceptance levels have to be undertaken to ensure a hitch-

free e-governance adoption.

4. CONCLUSION

E-governance proven to be a complex large integrated open sociotechnical

system. It therefore requires multi-stakeholder engagements in order to optimize the

overall system. It will mean considering non-technical issues as well as the technical

infrastructure for e-governance implementation to be effective. E-governance has

been adopted by many governments including developing countries in Africa with

attendant benefits.

Benefits of e-governance were succinctly captured by GUPTA (2004) to

include: having the potential to provide new scope (wide range of services,

participation in policy making), ‘substance’ (increased content), ‘style’ (interaction)

and ‘stance’ (attitude of government, private sector and citizens). Others include

accountability and transparency, cost savings, effective service delivery and wider

information dissemination and strengthening democracy. Nonetheless, adopting e-

governance is not without certain challenges.

Bayelsa seems to have set the right path for her e-governance strategy.

However, its impacts are yet to be felt state-wide. A lot still needs to be done. The

infrastructure in not right yet. Citizens’ mobilization is far way behind what can make

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an effective e-governance program because the role citizens’ participation in

governance is crucial when trying to harness the complex social systems.

We will conclude with the words of SHAHWAN (2010) regarding the

implementing e-governance, that the Bayelsa State government must reposition

itself to become an engaged and constructive partner in shaping the new

governance patterns that will otherwise render it rudderless. Therefore, government

must produce a new culture in order to harness the enormous potential of digital

government (GUPTA, 2014) for inclusive development.

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