Assessing the factors influencing intention to use e-government in Tanzania: the perspective of trust, participation and transparency

Abstract

PurposeThis research involves empirical evidence from the Tanzanian context to find out whether participation, trust and transparency have a significant impact on the acceptance of e-government systems.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a survey of 153 respondents followed by structural equation modelling-variance based (CB-SEM) analysis using PLS 4. The conceptual framework was developed by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) with additional constructs before testing it in quantitative research.FindingsResults of the model show that the perceived ease of use (PEU) had neither a significant relationship with behaviour intention nor with perceived transparency, while all the other relationships were found to be significant.Research limitations/implicationsAmong others, this research provides theoretical underpinnings to the area of acceptance of technologies as well as providing areas for future research and policy implications.Practical implicationsThe study presents the relationships involving transparency, trust and participation in e-government systems by the citizens and how they can potentially influence intention to use e-government systems.Social implicationsThe regulatory authorities, mobile service operators and government can use this research to enhance decision-making and governance towards effective use of mobile phone technology in accessing government services.Originality/valueThis research delivers a refined, extended model of TAM that comprises extra constructs, namely, trust, transparency and participation. This model provides the basis for upcoming research in the area of technology acceptance, e-government and in behavioural science.

The Role of Collaboration on Acceptance of E-Government in Tanzania

“…This study put out the theory that citizens' opinions regarding the perceived utility of E-government were directly impacted by how simple they thought it was to use. According to certain studies [5], there is evidence to support this claim about the use of e-government systems. The results of the investigation are shown in Table 5, which shows that H1b was statistically significant.…”

“…The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which contends that people's decisions about when and how to utilize technology are influenced by a range of circumstances, is expanded upon in this study [5], [8]. The basis of TAM consists of the two main variables, perceived utility (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU).…”

“…Users' intentions to use a certain technology in the near future are typically influenced by a wide range of factors. [5], [9].…”

“…The benefits of electronic government were acknowledged in Tanzania's National ICT Policy (2003), which was later changed in the National ICT Policy, 2016 [5] individuals to invest in e-government by increasing their willingness, confidence, and trust, the nation's national e-government strategy was subsequently developed in 2009. The creation of an e-government organization to supervise and control all e-government projects in Tanzania was one of the supplementary initiatives [4].…”

“…Providing reliable services to citizens can provide a number of difficulties for governments. Cultural differences, a lack of leadership and management support, ignorance of the e-government program, inadequate IT infrastructure, a lack of qualified staff and training programs, a lack of policies and regulations for e-use, resistance to changing to e-systems, a lack of strategic plans, and a lack of funding are a few of the major obstacles or challenges mentioned in the literature [3], [5], [7].…”