The Relative Importance of Intermediaries in eGovernment Adoption: A Study of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Although Gulf countries have invested large sums of money in implementing e-government services, adoption rates have been low due to various social, political and demographic reasons. This study aims to provide a better understanding to citizens’ adoption of e-government services through conceptualizing the role of intermediary organisations within e-government. In particular, this paper examines the importance of intermediaries in the adoption of e-government from a citizens’ perspective and the potential influence they have on bridging digital divide in societies. Following previous studies on e-government adoption, the study employs the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to examine the influence of intermediaries on citizens’ adoption of e-government services in the context of Madinah city in Saudi Arabia. The results in this study indicates that the citizens’ efforts towards using e-government services, their trust of the Internet and their trust of intermediary organisations contribute significantly towards their e-government adoption behaviour. Further, the facilitating conditions the intermediary organisations offer have a significant impact on the usage of e-government services.