This report presents the findings of the analysis of the state of the art conducted as part of the JRC research on "Exploring Digital Government Transformation in the EU: understanding public sector innovation in a data- driven society" (DIGIGOV), within the framework of the "European Location Interoperability Solutions for eGovernment (ELISE)" Action of the ISA 2 Programme on Interoperability solutions for public administrations, businesses and citizens, coordinated by DIGIT. The results of the review of literature, based on almost 500 academic and grey literature sources, as well as the analysis of digital government policies in the EU Member States provide a synthetic overview of the main themes and topics of the digital government discourse. The report depicts the variety of existing conceptualisations and definitions of the digital government phenomenon, measured and expected effects of the application of more disruptive innovations and emerging technologies in government, as well as key drivers and barriers for transforming the public sector. Overall, the literature review shows that many sources appear overly optimistic with regard to the impact of digital government transformation, although the majority of them are based on normative views or expectations, rather than empirically tested insights. The authors therefore caution that digital government transformation should be researched empirically and with a due differentiation between evidence and hope. In this respect, the report paves the way to in-depth analysis of the effects that can be generated by digital innovation in public sector organisations. A digital transformation that implies the redesign of the tools and methods used in the machinery of government will require in fact a significant change in the institutional frameworks that regulate and help coordinate the governance systems in which such changing processes are implemented.

This report presents the results of the research ‘Exploring Digital Government Transformation in the EU: understanding public sector innovation in a data-driven society’, in short DigiGov. The main goal of the research was to better understand how ICT-enabled innovation in the public sector can transform governance systems, and how governments can take advantage of emerging and future digitaltechnologies in order to address systemic problems such as the inefficiency of public services, existing inequalities of access, and a decline in trust and in perceptions of the legitimacy of government. Compiled over a period of 18 months (from December 2018 to July 2020) using a set of different approaches, this final report of the study concludes with suggestions as to how the future research agenda and policy developments in this field could be shaped.

In 2018, the JRC launched the research project ‘Exploring Digital Government Transformation in the EU: understanding public sector innovation in a data-driven society’, referred to in brief as DigiGov. The key objective of the project was to explore how innovation in the public sector, enabled by information and communication technologies (ICTs), can transform governance systems, enablinggovernments to better address systemic problems. The research was designed to consider governmental transformation in relation to emerging predictive and cognitive technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), in combination with applications providing geospatial/location data, for policy design and service delivery. The research aimed to support the implementation of JRC research in the area of digital government, as part of its flagship project on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (DT&AI), and within the framework of the ELISE Action of the ISA2 Programme, jointly led by the JRC and DIGIT. The DigiGov research was directed by the JRC and implemented by a consortium consisting of PPMI, Open Evidence, Politecnico di Milano, Rand Europe and Martel Innovate. The team analysed the state of the art, developed a conceptual framework and carried out four case studies, which included empirical experiments. The study included an extensive consultation and validation process which drew on three workshops as well as online community engagement activities. The participants included experts, academics, practitioners and representatives of NGOs, as well as policy makers from governments, EU institutions and international organisations. In total, almost 100 experts and stakeholder representatives, as well as EC colleagues, engaged in study-related events and activities. They carried out peer reviews, contributed to discussions and provided feedback that informed the research process. More specifically, three events were organised as a core part of the DigiGov research, to discuss the key findings of the study and gain insights for further work and policy implications: - The first workshop was held at JRC Ispra, Italy on 13-14 May 2019. It focused on discussing the review of the state of the art and the first draft of the conceptual framework for the study. - The second event consisted of a Policy Lab, and took place at JRC Seville on 24-25 October 2019. It focused on co-designing the revised version of the conceptual framework, and validating the findings of the four experimental case studies. - The final workshop took place on 9 July 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions, the event was organised online. The workshop discussed avenues for shaping Digital Government Transformation in the EU, and included a foresight discussion to imagine the future of digitally enabled governments. Over the forthcoming sections, we present the key insights that emerged from the workshops. In the final section, we bring together the most prominent ideas, including some of those that originated from the debate on the role of the EU in the light of different digital transformation scenarios.

This report presents the results of the conceptual and empirical work conducted as part of the JRC research on "Exploring Digital Government Transformation: understanding public sector innovation in a data-driven society" conducted within the framework of the "European Location Interoperability Solutions for eGovernment (ELISE)" Action of the ISA2 Programme on Interoperability solutions for public administrations, businesses and citizens, coordinated by DIGIT. Building on the systematisation of the state of the art carried out in the previous phase of the research, the report presents an original conceptual framework for assessing the impacts of Digital Government transformation in the EU and discusses the results of case studies carried out using an experimental or quasi-experimental approach to test and validate it, carried out in different policy areas in various EU countries. The report concludes outlining the final proposal of DigiGov F 2.0, which defines the dimensions and elements of analysis for assessing the effects that can be generated by digital innovation in the public sector and the impacts they have at social, economic and political levels in different policy-cycle phases and governance contexts.

Over the last decade governments in Europe and North America have attempted to improve efficiency of public services through Information and Communication Technology, commonly branded as electronic government (e-government). Public Sector Transformation through E-Government explores the influence that e-government has on public sector organizations, the organizational complexities that result, and its impact on citizens and democratic society. This book examines e-government's potential to transform public services from a theoretical perspective, and provides practical examples from leading public sector institutions that have utilized e-government as a basis to bring about change. It further investigates the relationship between citizens and government and how they are affected by e-government policies and programs. Aimed at students and researchers of public administration/management and information systems, this book serves as a welcome tool for examining and understanding e-government and transformational change.

Twenty-first century governments must keep pace with the expectations of their citizens and deliver on the promise of the digital age. Data-driven approaches are particularly effective for meeting those expectations and rethinking the way governments and citizens interact. This report highlights the important role data can play in creating conditions that improve public services, increase the effectiveness of public spending and inform ethical and privacy considerations. It presents a data-driven public sector framework that can help countries or organisations assess the elements needed for using data to make better-informed decisions across public sectors.