Local Electronic Government Leadership and Innovation: South Korean Experience

Abstract

What are the key components of e-government leadership and innovation strategy for effective e-government development in local government? Based on an in-depth case study of a local district in South Korea, this study examines how executive leadership creates citizen-centered local government innovation through adopting e-government and building management capacity. The key lesson for e-government leadership gleaned from this study is that the executive leader’s capacity to integrate clear e-government vision and goals, effective communication and appropriate management systems is vital to successful e-government innovation. The study shows that employee training and the demonstration of a clear vision of e-government leadership are positively associated with employee motivation. Successful e-government innovation relies on the development of strong management capacity in the areas of IT capacity, human resource management capacity, and IT education for citizens. Lessons and implications of the study for effective e-government leadership and innovation are presented.