Identifying the Contextual Conditions of Digital Governance with an E-Government Approach in Governmental Organizations of Mazandaran Province

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to identify and explain the contextual conditions influencing digital governance with an e-government approach in governmental organizations of Mazandaran Province. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and grounded theory methodology (paradigmatic approach). The participant population consisted of managers, senior experts, and specialists in the fields of information technology and public administration in Mazandaran Province. From an initial pool of 20 identified individuals, 12 participants were selected through purposive sampling based on criteria such as managerial experience, involvement in digital projects, and familiarity with the provincial administrative structure. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and the interview process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was carried out using a three-stage coding process, including open, axial, and selective coding. The results of the data analysis led to the extraction of 99 open codes, which were categorized into four axial categories: “organizational culture and human resource skills,” “administrative structure and organizational bureaucracy,” “technology infrastructure and information security,” and “inter-organizational coordination and interaction.” The highest frequency of codes was related to the category of organizational culture and human resource skills, with 42 codes (42%), indicating the critical importance of human factors in the realization of digital governance. This was followed by administrative structure and organizational bureaucracy with 25 codes (25%), technology infrastructure and information security with 17 codes (17%), and inter-organizational coordination and interaction with 15 codes (16%). All these categories were subsumed under the selective category of “contextual conditions” within the paradigmatic model of digital governance. The findings of the study indicate that the realization of digital governance in governmental organizations of Mazandaran Province requires simultaneous attention to human, structural, and technological dimensions. In this regard, organizational cultural readiness, the development of employees’ digital skills, reform of bureaucratic structures, and enhancement of inter-organizational coordination are among the most critical enabling factors for this transformation. Therefore, planning for human resource empowerment, reengineering of administrative processes, development of information technology infrastructure, and increased interaction among executive agencies can facilitate the effective implementation of digital governance and improve the quality of public services.