This paper describes research in progress to explore the role of culture in adoption of e-government at local government levels. The majority of research in electronic government highlighted cultural issues but they do not identify specific cultural traits influencing e-government adoption and use. From our literature review we identified four major cultural traits; adaptability, involvement, mission, and bureaucratic, that is explored in this research. Based on these cultural traits and other cultural issues surrounding the adoption of e-government, we develop a framework to explore the role of culture in adopting and using e-government systems at local government organizations. Evidences suggest that the adoption of e-government at local levels may be mandatory or voluntary which is followed by supportive policies from central governments. During the adoption process, the culture traits contribute to the adoption and use of e-government systems.

1. Examining the Role of the Culture of Local Government
on Adoption and Use of E-Government Services
Nurdin Nurdin
nnurdin@swin.edu.au , nnurdin69@gmail.com
Rosemary Stockdale
rstockdale@swin.edu.au
Helana Scheepers
hscheepers@swin.edu.au
Faculty of Information and
Communication Technologies
Full Paper Availabe at :
http://www.springerlink.com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/content/12q4un661h6462j3/
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is on leave from STAIN
20-23 September 2010 Datokarama Palu and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

2. Some Definitions
E-Government: Governments utilize technology for delivering
information, service, reducing bureaucracy, increase citizens
participations in government policies and democracy as well as
enhance their responsiveness to citizens needs ( DEPA, 2001)
Local Government:
The democratically elected multi-purpose institutions and their
bureaucratic organizations, which exist through statute at a sub-
national level
(Wilson & Game, 1998).
The formal institutions of a government at the local level, Eg. cities,
villages, towns, townships, counties, special cities, etc
(Pratchett, 1999; Gabris & Golembiewski, 1996)
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is on leave from STAIN
20-23 September 2010 Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

3. Background
 E-Government is an emerging issues around the
globe. It improve processes (e-Administration),
connecting citizens (e-services), external interactions
(eSociety)
 Citizens’ benefits (services availability 24/7),
broadening reach and eradicating distances
(Jaegar & Thompson, 2003; Heeks, 2002)
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is on leave from STAIN Datokarama
20-23 September 2010 and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

4. Facts In Developing Countries
 85% of e-gov adoption and implementation initiatives are
considered unsuccessful
Causes:
 Majority of the Technology is imported from private
companies or developed countries.
 Supportive Infrastructure such as technology, finance, human
resource is low
 Culture issues
(Heeks, 2003)
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is onleave from STAIN Datokarama
20-23 September 2010 and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

5. Research Background
1. Research in e-government in developing countries mainly
address technology aspects such as technology incompatibility,
newness, and complexity.
2. Research mainly carried out at central level
3. Limited research in non technical issues such as culture and
organizational issue
4. Majority of problem in e-government adoption and
implementation;
a. culture
b. organizational
(Chen, Huang, & Chin, 2006; Heek, 2002; Carter & Werakkody, 2008;
Margaret&Dunleavy,2002;Warkentin, Gefen, Pavlou & Rose, 2002)
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is onleave from STAIN Datokarama
20-23 September 2010 and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

6. Electronic Local Government Adoption
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September,
Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is onleave from STAIN Datokarama
20-23 September 2010 and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

7. Definition of Culture
Culture:
• programming of the mind which distinguishes the members
of one human group from another
(Hofstede, 1998)
Organizational Culture:
• The underlying values, belief, and principles that serve as a
foundation for an organization’s management system as
well as the set of management practices and behaviour that
both exemplify and reinforce those basic principles
(Denison, 1990)
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International
Federation for Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane,
Australia. N Nurdin is onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK
20-23 September 2010 Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

8. Organizational Dimensions
External ADAPTABILITY MISSION
Orientation a value of organizations that a cultural trait that provide purpose
focus on external situation and meaning to an organization
demand by developing norms and and also gives direction and
beliefs that support its capacity to identifies goals that enable an
respond to the need and change organization to act in an acceptable
way
INVOLVEMENT BUREAUCRATIC
Internal
a subjective psychological state of organization’s culture that has clear
Integration users which is practiced in forms of lines of responsibility and authority
participation through behaviour and based on control, power, rules, and
activities performed regulations
Change Stability
& &
Flexibility Direction
Presented & Mishra (1995), Wallach, 1983) International Federation for
(Denison at World Computer Congress 2010,
Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin
20-23 September 2010
is onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

9. Organizational Issues in
 Leadership/ Management support/  Eynon & Margaret, 20007; Pensuppap & Walker,
e-Government Implementation
commitment/ Participation
2006
 Korpela, 2006; Li, 2005; Titah & Barki, 2006;
 Regulations/ Rules Yu-Che & Gant, 2001
 Heeks, 2002; Kunsteli & Vintar, 2004
 Structure/ Hierarchy
 Chee-we et al, 2005; Jaegar & Thompson, 2003;
 Mission, vision, goals Teo & Ang, 2001; Zhang, et al, 2005
 Change management  Dada, 2006; Edmiston, 2003; Heek, 2003
 Organizational/Employee learning  Ho, 2002; Rose,2004; NDou, 2004
 Coordination  Beer & Eisenstat, 2000; Evans & Yen, 2006
 Collaboration/ Partnership Baynon-Davies & William, 2003; Love, Irani, Li,
Cheng & Tse, 2001
Trust (between employees and  Belanger & Carter, 2008; Rotchanakitumnual &
department) Speech, 2003
Transparency  Chen, Chen, Hung & Ching, 2006
 Responsibility  Jaegar & Thompson, 2003; McDaniel, 2003
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International Federation for
20-23 September 2010 Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is
onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

10. Fitting the Issues into Organizational Dimensions
ADAPTABILITY MISSION
External - Transparency - Vision
Orientation - Trust - Goals
- Change Management
- Organizational/Employee
Learning
INVOLVEMENT BUREAUCRATIC
Internal
Integration
- Participation - Hierarchy/ Structure
- Commitment - Regulations
- Partnership - Coordination
- Responsibility
Change Stability
& &
Flexibility Direction
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International Federation for
Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin
20-23 September 2010 is onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

11. Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International Federation for
Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin
20-23 September 2010 is onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia

12. Suggestions
For improvement
Presented at World Computer Congress 2010, International Federation for
Information Processing, 20 - 23 September, Brisbane, Australia. N Nurdin is
onleave from STAIN Datokarama and STMIK Bina Mulia Palu, Indonesia
20-23 September 2010