E‐government and technological innovation in Turkey

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to identify the technological innovation process, stakeholders of the process, sources of innovation, driving forces of innovation, and obstacles of innovation for the Turkish public sector.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, interviews are used as data‐collection methods. For the purpose of this paper, the researcher has conducted a series of semi‐structured or open interviews. The interviews are recorded and transcribed. In addition, information related to the technological‐innovation projects performed in the public organizations is collected from documents, books, and governmental reports. A total of 20 organizations have been conducted to participate in the study; however, only 14 of them are retained after consideration of the selection criteria. In addition, 28 e‐government projects that lead innovation are analyzed.FindingsResults of the study show that external relations with stakeholders enhance the innovation process. Innovation emerges as a result of interaction between the stakeholders. Innovation process has four main stages and six steps. Stages of the innovation process are idea generation, project development, production, and innovation. Six steps of the innovation process are idea, project study, project approval, project implementation, new services, and innovation. Innovation starts with idea generation in the first stage. New ideas can be generated by the personnel of the organization, legislation, citizens, and other firms. After idea generation, the new ideas should be conceptualized projects in order to reach innovation. Innovation cannot be achieved due to some obstacles. The main obstacles in the public sector can be listed as legislation, lack of qualified staff, approval authority, and bureaucracy. Production as the third stage can only start after overcoming the mentioned obstacles. Project implementation is performed in the fourth step and a new service is acquired in the fifth step. Innovation is the last stage of the technological innovation process where diffusion of the new service is performed in order to innovate in the organization.Originality/valueThe significant findings of this paper may help managers for long‐term planning of innovation activities and they may pave the way of managers for their innovation projects by means of determining unclear innovation process and identifying the inputs and outputs of the process. Moreover, this paper is a guide for the managers in public organizations; finding out possible obstacles, identifying driving forces to accelerate the innovation process, emphasizing the importance of interaction between the stakeholders.