STRATEGIC ICT MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH’S TRANSITION TO E-GOVERNANCE: FRAMING OUT A REALISTIC SUSTAINABLE APPROACH

Abstract

Applications of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have come out as the most effective tools for quick, easy, hassle-free, convenient, transparent, responsible, accountable, participatory and responsive way of Government service delivery to the citizen all over the world. In the present world, Technology is a vital strategic element specially the ICT, as ICT is the part and parcel of everyday life. Different citizen services are also giving through ICT by the Government and thus transforming the governance to e-Governance in many countries of the world. Bangladesh is also at the take off stage of e-Governance and advancing very first. But a huge percentage of e-governance initiatives and projects failed in developing countries like Bangladesh due to the lack of proper strategic ICT management. This research focuses on insights into the strategic ICT Management for sustainable e-Governance in Bangladesh’s transition to e-Governance. This research work explores the CSFs (Critical Success Factors) and ranking the CFS’s according to preference level for strategic ICT management regarding sustainable e-Governance in Bangladesh. Institutional techniques Fuzzy AHP and Delphi are used by the researcher to handle the Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) complex issues for decision making as these techniques have the ability to assess the ambiguity of real complex problems for better planning and decision making. Due to this reason, Fuzzy AHP and Delphi technique were used in this research work as it is MCDM complex issue. The research findings obtained by these two techniques were also validated for getting more reliable and trustful result. Sensitivity test of research findings were conducted to check the stability and robustness of research findings for quality decision making. The researcher developed questionnaire for Fuzzy AHP and Delphi method to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis using multi-methods approach for data collection. The series of techniques adopted for this study which are questionnaire responses, brain storming, document analysis, observation and relevant experience. To collect the expert opinion about the CSFs for strategic ICT management in Bangladesh’s transition to e-Governance, a “Google Form” was formulated and sent to relevant experts through e-mail with preamble .The research findings suppose that most of the Critical Success Factors : Infrastructure Development and Resource Sharing, Government Policy, Available Skilled vi Human Resource, Availability of service, Personal Information Security, Cost of service, Cyber Security, Awareness of Citizen, Technology Transfer by Vendor, Quality of service, Acceptability in socio-Cultural aspects, Legal protection, are similar to those discussed in existing literature, although some may be specific to the Bangladesh context. The three new specific CSFs are identified/ proposed for strategic ICT management of sustainable e-Governance by the researcher and assessed these accordingly, the proposed new CSFs are: Environmental Hazard, Resource Consumption and Resource Conservation; as environmental issues are very important for any development for the betterment of Earth and human. Two CSFs such as Infrastructure development and Resource Sharing are mentioned separately in different literature review, in this research work, the researcher considered it as one CSF: Infrastructure Development and Resource Sharing to the Bangladesh context and assessed accordingly, as this two CSFs are interdependent for successful operation. Total 15 CSFs are identified and assessed in this research work. Based on the assessment of CSFs and findings of research, the researcher was able to frame out a new conceptual Triangular model of strategic ICT management for sustainable e-Governance in the perspective of Bangladesh’s transition to e-Governance, which was a unique and specific outcome of this research study. The conceptualized new Triangular model of strategic ICT management should help Decision Makers, Planners, Policy formulators, academicians and researcher to understand the step-by-step guide for strategic ICT Management of sustainable e-Governance in the perspective of Bangladesh’s transition to e-Governance. The researcher therefore has accomplished that this study extends to the knowledge in the aspect of strategic ICT management regarding sustainable e-Governance of Bangladesh. This new conceptualized model enables the development of a holistic plan for strategic ICT Management in implementing sustainable e-Governance throughout the development life cycle of e-Governance in Bangladesh.