Why Mobile Government Isn’t Successful (Yet): Perceived Innovativeness Between Citizens and the Government

• In Event: So Far, So Good, Part 1: Organizational Communication Research Escalator

Abstract

Mobile Government as a subset of E-Government is part of the Open Government approach of leading countries, like Germany. Since adoption rates among the citizens are still low this study tries to contribute to answer the question, what factors in the relationship of the government and its citizens might prevent a successful implementation. It is argued that a certain level of willingness for innovation on both sides is necessary for a successful implementation of M-Government. On the basis of the Diffusion of Innovation (Rogers, 1962) and using the concept of Innovativeness (Rogers & Shoemaker, 1971) a study was conducted among citizens and the municipal council of a large city in Germany. They were asked to assess their own willingness for innovation as well as the perceived innovativeness for the respective other side. The results show a significant misperception of citizens and the government concerning the innovativeness of the respective other.

Authors

• Jakob Ohme, University of Southern Denmark

• Claudia Seifert, Technische Universitaet Dresden

• Rebecca Renatus, Technical U Dresden