Among the changes brought to business in the twenty-first century, the spreading and popularization of the Internet are arguably the most noticeable. The acknowledgment of the opportunities provided by it to the business sector has invariably led to the emergence of e-commerce and, by extension, e-government. The shift of government into the digital domain is beneficial both for individuals and business entities, as it offers better time and resource management, decreases the costs of operations, raises the efficiency of departments, optimizes the operations by excluding unnecessary steps, and otherwise benefits the stakeholders (Lamersdorf, Tschammer, and Amager 14).
However, the shift from the traditional to the electronic governing scheme has been known to cause difficulties. These difficulties are multiple and can be grouped into several categories: technical (the difficulties of establishing the infrastructure, securing the privacy of users and other sensitive information, and providing the required level of security), financial (primarily, the high cost of equipment and skilled workforce), social (the cultural barriers and IT literacy issues), and organizational (resistance to change, lack of external collaboration and support, and shortage of qualified personnel) (Aqel 92). Arguably, all of the difficulties can be addressed by the skilled management by preparing the basis for e-transformation and, as a part of it, assessing and enhancing the e-readiness of the target audience.
Relevance of the Problem
The problem is relevant for the United Arab Emirates for two reasons. First, the economy of the country is developing at a phenomenal pace. To sustain the pace and secure the possibility of managing the business structure in the nearest years as well as guarantee solid basis for the long-term growth, the shift to e-government is absolutely crucial. Second, the current pace requires the external as well as internal participation. In other words, UAE needs the involvement of the international partners in business as well as other fields. As a matter of fact, the country has demonstrated a range of policies that are oriented towards encouraging and supporting collaboration with international parties. However, it is important to acknowledge that most of the developed countries have either already undergone or are on the way of implementing an e-transformation. It is thus highly likely that their decision will at least in part be dictated by the UAE’s compliance with the standards of e-government and the readiness to accept their partners’ innovative approach (Mälkiä 5).
Research Questions
First, the research highlights the defining role of the IT executives in implementing the successful e-transformation. Second, the research aims at reviewing the existing implementation frameworks and practices utilized by the UAE government and determining their value for the process.
Methodology
Data Specifications
The research will be conducted in the form of qualitative study. The primary data collection method is the literature review. As the focus of the study is the current situation in the UAE and existing practices, the review will focus on up-to-date case studies of the matter and the research that is relevant to the topic, such as the alternative methods exhibited by other countries.
Data Collection Methods
The materials will be collected using the Web, primarily the tools such as Google Scholar, with the preference given to scholarly peer-reviewed sources.
Data Analysis
After reviewing the literature, the successful and faulty practices will be identified, along with the recommendations for further improvement.
Conclusion
The issue of the successful implementation of e-government can not be underestimated, as it provides additional possibilities and will benefit existing business practices. Thus, the research will have an added value for the IT executives seeking to improve their current organizational practices, conceiving a framework for the planned e-transformation, and, to some degree, the employees working in the e-commerce and e-government fields.
Works Cited
Aqel, A. Organizational Readiness to e-Transformation, Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2012. Print.
Lamersdorf, Winfried, Volker Tschammer, and Stephane Amarger. Building the E-Service Society: E-Commerce, E-Business, and E-Government, New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2004. Print.
Mälkiä, Matti. eTransformation in Governance: New Directions in Government and Politics, Hershey Pennsylvania: Idea Group Inc, 2004. Print.