Local Government Employees’ Technology Acceptance of E-Participation: An Empirical Analysis Using Structural Equation Modeling

• Published date: 01 November 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00953997231198847
• Author: Phillip Nguyen,Stefan Süß
• Date: 01 November 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997231198847

Administration & Society

2023, Vol. 55(10) 1839 –1865

© The Author(s) 2023

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DOI: 10.1177/00953997231198847

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Article

Local Government

Employees’ Technology

Acceptance of

E-Participation: An

Empirical Analysis Using

Structural Equation

Modeling

Phillip Nguyen1 and Stefan Süß1

Abstract

The quality and quantity of e-participation procedures depend heavily on

the acceptance of the local government employees involved. Based on

Venkatesh’s unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study

investigates the factors influencing these employees’ usage intentions. The

results of an online survey of German local government employees show

that facilitating conditions, performance expectancy, and social influence

significantly impact acceptance. The effect of factors like administrative

culture could not be confirmed. Theoretical and practical implications of

these findings are discussed.

Keywords

e-participation, technology acceptance, local government, local government

employees

1Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany

Corresponding Author:

Stefan Süß, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf, 40225,

Germany.

Email: stefan.suess@hhu.de

1198847AAS0010.1177/00953997231198847Administration & SocietyNguyen and Süß

research-article2023

1840 Administration & Society 55(10)

Introduction

For some time, local governments have faced numerous reforms and changes

requiring modernization of their actions, culture, and structure (Osborne

et al., 2016). In addition to adopting private-sector management techniques,

it is necessary to digitize local government. The extensive use of information

and communication technologies in many processes and procedures seeks to

increase the efficiency of these administrations (El-Haddadeh et al., 2013).

Another goal is to enhance citizen participation to improve the democratic

process (Twizeyimana & Andersson, 2019). In response to the growing

demand for innovative methods to integrate citizens’ opinions into decision-

making, e-participation has been widely discussed in the research discourse

of e-government and open government (Simonofski et al., 2017). With infor-

mal internet-based participation using social media or online forums and

platforms (Y Choi & Kwon, 2019) – for example, participatory budgeting or

consulting platforms, public decision-making should be more diverse and,

more representative (Macintosh, 2008). E-participation aims to open up new

technology-oriented target groups and enhance participation by increasing

local governments’ reach (Albrecht et al., 2008). However, challenges such

as lack of participation, insufficient outcomes, uncertain costs, or necessary

change and learning processes threaten the success and long-term establish-

ment (Ben & Schuppan, 2015; Grunwald et al., 2005).

Moreover, several risks are associated with implementing e-participation,

which continue to hamper its successful diffusion. In light of the digital

divide, particularly the lack of participation of elders and technology-averse

citizens can reinforce existing inequalities and representation difficulties and

ensure exclusion (Reddick, 2011; Schlozman et al., 2010). Thus, one goal of

citizen participation, inclusion of members of a diverse society, is potentially

counteracted. Combined with established logics and work processes that

must be overcome when involving external actors such as citizens (Steinbach

& Süß, 2018), it is not surprising that local government digitization efforts

focus primarily on traditional one-way e-government offerings, while citizen

participation has only limited relevance (D’Agostino et al., 2011).

As an essential part of reform efforts to secure more open government,

e-participation remains an important topic for research and practice (Friess

et al., 2021). However, one perspective that has played only a subordinate

role is the perspective of the employees of the implementing public organiza-

tions. Some studies have analyzed the influence of individual employees on

the success of e-participation. For example, Zheng and Schachter (2018)

found that employees' willingness to use information and communication

technologies has an impact on the number of e-participation offerings. By