Effectiveness of information technology in reducing corruption in China

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of information technology in reducing corruption in China. Meanwhile this paper explores whether electronic monitoring systems (EMS) can be evaluated in terms of the DeLone and McLean information systems (IS) success model. Design/methodology/approach – The status of the EMS in five cities is first proposed, and then a model of e-government system success is designed to evaluate the EMS. Data are obtained from 387 civil servants in the supervision agencies. Then the effectiveness of EMS in reducing corruption is deeply assessed, and the DeLone and McLean IS success model is validated. Findings – The findings show that the application of EMS has a positive effect on reducing corruption. IT thus has the potential to reduce corruption, but the institution and the people are more important. Originality/value – Although many theories about reducing corruption have been proposed, the EMS application in reducing corruption has seldom been addressed. This study is the first, to the author's knowledge, to examine EMS and corruption reduction from the point of view of the IS success model.