Leveraging Government Digital Platforms in Resource-Constrained Countries: Micro-foundations of Woredas in Ethiopia
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify the micro-foundations of Woredas in Ethiopia that digitally innovate on the existing government digital platform. The study used a qualitative interpretive case study strategy with three government administrative regions in Ethiopia (called Woredas) that innovate digitally using the government digital platform. To collect data, a structured interview protocol was used. From each of the Woredas (districts), five respondents were chosen to represent users, ICT staff, and management, making a total of 15 respondents. The findings show that the digital platform governance model plays the most important role in digital government innovation. Woredas demonstrate sensing capabilities by learning from the affordances provided by the digital platform. Furthermore, despite the joint nature of their seizing capabilities, no clear organizational structures exist to manifest these capabilities. The governance model, which is centralized in one ICT unit, limits the reconfiguring capabilities.