Navigating the E-Government and Public Administration Research Landscape

The term public administration has a very humble meaning, 'to look after' or 'to care' for the public. Whatever services we are getting as a part of a public organization fall under public administration. When it comes to research related to e-government and public administration, there are several factors to consider. This article will guide you through the process of selecting a well-defined and impactful research topic that aligns with your skills and interests.

Understanding the E-Government Landscape

E-Government refers to the use of technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to citizens, businesses, agencies, and other governmental entities. When choosing a topic, begin by gaining a solid understanding of the broad e-government landscape and identifying emerging trends. Here are some key areas to explore:

E-government adoption and usage Digital transformation of government services Open data initiatives Citizen engagement through online platforms

Keep an eye on recent e-government indexes and rankings by groups like the United Nations. These can provide insights into what countries or initiatives are making progress. Speaking to officials involved in e-government modernization efforts can also reveal pressing issues or gaps in current research. Analyzing strategic plans and roadmaps published by national and local governments worldwide is another valuable resource to pinpoint priority areas or challenges.

Aligning with Your Skills and Interests

As you learn more about the general domain, start taking note of specific aspects that interest you or align with your skills and education:

Technical or computer science background: Topics involving new technologies like blockchain, AI, and mobile apps Public policy or administration expertise: Topics centered around governance, legal and regulatory issues, and service delivery transformation Psychologists or social scientists: Research into citizen adoption behaviors and improving user experiences

Narrowing your topic focus to a particular government function, program, service, or policy area can help bound the scope to a more manageable level. Core areas ripe for e-government research include taxation, healthcare, education, licensing/permits, transportation, benefits administration, and digital identity management. Explore how a specific country modernized one of these through an integrated digital platform or mobile apps. Evaluating the outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned would make for an insightful case study.

Exploring International and Comparative Perspectives

International and comparative perspectives on e-government are also popular approaches:

Looking at how two or more nations achieved similar modernization goals but through different technical, political, or cultural paths can yield valuable cross-country insights Analyzing regional initiatives in areas like the European Union (EU), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Examining developing versus developed country approaches Studying unique e-government models emerging from smaller nations or city-states

Go a level deeper by tightening the topic even further. For example, if focusing on digital infrastructure supporting e-government, you could analyze specific blockchain-based shared service platforms, interoperability frameworks, centralized databases/registries, or open API strategies. Or when researching the impact, target areas such as cost-savings, increased transparency, reducing corruption, or improving citizen satisfaction with a certain public service after digitization.

Refining Your Research Topic

Discuss prospective research questions with faculty members and peers to get early feedback on viability and alignment. They may point out gaps in existing research your topic intends to address or suggest adjusting scope based on available data sources and methods.

Refine your topic iteratively based on such guidance to arrive at the most promising angle. Ultimately, choose a research area you are passionate about so you remain motivated throughout the process of exploring a complex domain like e-government and public administration.