E-governance innovation: Barriers and strategies

Various models have been developed to explain the adoption of e-government but systematic research on barriers to e-governance is lacking. On the basis of the literature, this paper develops a theoretical model of e-governance innovation that highlights (1) phases in the innovation process, (2) government and citizen barriers and (3) structural and cultural barriers. Fixing problems and framing stories are presented as the two principal strategies for tackling the various barriers throughout the innovation process. This model is explored in a case study of a technological system for collaboration between police and citizens in The Netherlands. The case shows the value of the model and highlights that e-governance innovation is about designing comprehensive strategies of fixing and framing to tackle the variety of barriers. More specifically, the research highlights that government officials and citizens are not motivated by the promise of technology but by frames that connect technological opportunities to the production of public value. •Develops a theoretical model of barriers to e-governance innovation and strategies for tackling these;•Uses this model for an in-depth, qualitative analysis of the development of a system for citizen participation in policing in the Netherlands;•Concludes that government officials and citizens are motivated by story lines that connect technological opportunities to public value.