Marwan Elnaghi
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EXPLORING STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING AN ICT-ENABLED TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Marwan Elnaghi Brunel Business School Brunel University 2011 Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Abstract A This empirical research focuses on exploring the role of strategic leadership in the shift from Electronic Government (eGovernment) to Transformational Government (tGovernment). Despite the fact that many countries have implemented eGovernment, the literature reports a number of themhave failed to reach the promised seamless transformation. Moreover, there is a dearth of research into the domain of tGovernment; the research which exists is limited in extent thus leaving scope for timely and novel research contributions. This thesis reveals that a valuable contribution to knowledge could be derived from exploring the domain of transformational government. The leadership motivationand incentives to conduct a radical government organisational change have become an area of great importance. There is limited research on the strategic role of leadership in achieving transformational government domain; hence, the implications of seamless integration for transformational government have yet to be explored. This research discusses transformational government by using a qualitative, multiple case study research strategy. Data is triangulated and analysed according to its explanatory properties and underlying structural context. This researchextends established norms in literature for tGovernment implementation by incorporating established theories in organisational change from other related disciplines. This is to explain the significance of the underlying philosophical nature of the emerging themes, thus enabling government leaders to create robust strategic proposals for tGovernment. This empirical research is conducted in a Middle Eastern cultural context based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The research arrives at several key findings and themesthat contribute to the body of knowledge. A primary finding is the need for a radical change and an innovative managerial approach in using ICT to enable radical change in government organisations. A related finding of this research is that many assumptions underlying the various tGovernment models for transformation fall short to empirically explain the transformational government domain.The government visionary leadership has been proven to be a powerful driver for change in terms of initiating and leading the process for transformational government. Marwan Elnaghi II Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Acknowledgement A I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to all those who have offered help, and advice over those years of enduring doctoral research. It is recognised that research activity is a collaborative effort in nature; and the research presented in this thesis is no exception. The support of a number of individuals and organisations is gratefully acknowledged. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisors Dr. Sarmad Al-Shawi and Professor Zahir Irani for their enthusiastic support, advice, patience and constant energy for ideas’ sharing throughout the research effort. Their influence is inherited in both the theoretical and practical aspects of this work. I would like to thank Dr. Vishanth Weerakoddy, Dr Muhammad Kamal, Professor Ibrahim Osman, Dr. Farouk Missi, and Professor E.H. Twizellfor their constant encouragement, guidance and support. My additional big thanks also go to Professor Irani rectifying me throughout my doctoral studies and offering me a part-time lecturer position at Brunel Business School. I owe special thanks to my father (Mustapha Elnaghi) who managed to help me to get to the stage due to his struggle and hard work throughout his life, as a motor mechanic, and supporting his children for the best education, and for this I am proud of him. I also extend my great debt to H.E. Mr. Moustafa Durnaika Chairman of SOGEX Services International Ltd for his benevolent support to come to the United Kingdom to pursue my further education. I again owe big special thanks to my wife Fatima for her immense support (morally, emotionally, intellectually, and financially!) all the way through my doctoral studies and my beautiful daughters Sarah and RayenNaghiand my son Mustapha. Last but not the least, in terms of exchange of ideas, support, criticisms and intellectual stimulation, thanks is offered to all my fellow members of academic staff at the Brunel Business School. I also acknowledge, with great thanks, the case government organisations of Dubai Government namely: (Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, and Dubai Naturalisation & Residency Department) and their staff, who contributed to the empirical side of this work with their transparent openness, for their welcoming generosity with time, support and professionalism. Marwan Elnaghi III Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents D Declaration I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, no portion of the study referred to in this thesis hasbeen submitted in support of an application for another degree, or qualification, to any other university, or institution of academic learning. The thesis conforms to the British Standard BS 4821: 1990, the `British Standard Recommendation for the Presentations of the Thesis and Dissertations', and follows theHarvard referencing system. Marwan Elnaghi Marwan Elnaghi IV Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents D Dedication Dedicated with love to my parents, my wonderful wife Fatima and my lovely children Sarah, Rayen and Mustapha And beautiful addition to our family, Isa Ibn-Shakeeb (grandson) Marwan Elnaghi V Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents P Publications This thesis gives an account of the research undertaken in this empirical study. Some of the material displayed herein has already been published, is accepted and yet to be published or is under review in the form of the following publications: Elnaghi, M., Al-Shawi, S., Irani, Z., and Kamal, M. 2011. An Authority’s Role Managing Transformation in Service Re-engineering: Experience from Dubai. Government Information Quarterly. (Under review) Elnaghi, M. AlShawi, S. and Seitanidi, M. 2008. Towards Designing A Sustainable Is- Enabled Service Delivery System.Proceeding European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS08) May 25-26, 2008, Dubai, UAE. Elnaghi, M., Elliman, T., AlShawi, S., Aziz, W. and Kamal, M. 2008. The Motivations For Change Towards A Single Channel Transformational Government At Dubai Municipality. eGovernment Workshop’08 (eGOV08), September 8, 2008, London, UK. Kamal, M., Themistocleous, M. Elliman, A. and Elnaghi, M. 2008. Prioritising Factors Influencing EAI Adoption in LocalGovernment Authorities Using the AHP Technique. eGovernment Workshop’08 (eGOV08), London, UK. Elnaghi, M., AlShawi, S. and Missi, F. 2007. A Leadership Model for eGovernment Transformation, Proceeding European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS07), June 24-26, 2007, Valencia, Spain. Elnaghi, M., AlShawi, S., Weerakkody, V., and Aziz, W. 2009. Instigating Transformational Government At A Municipality Level: A Case Study. Handbook of Research on ICT- Enabled Transformational Government: A Global Perspective’.IGI Global Publishing USA. Marwan Elnaghi VI Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents C Table of Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................ III DECLARATION....................................................................................................... IV DEDICATION............................................................................................................. V PUBLICATIONS ...................................................................................................... VI TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ VII LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... XI LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................... XIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH AREA ........................... 1 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................... 2 1.2 TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES BEYOND EGOVERNMENT ....................... 4 1.3 DUBAI MOTIVATION FOR IMPLEMENTING TGOVERNMENT .................................... 6 1.3.1 Dubai Governance System ............................................................................ 8 1.4 STRATEGICALLY INTEGRATED TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES .... 9 1.5 THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.6 RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES ....................................................................... 13 1.7 THESIS OUTLINE ................................................................................................. 15 1.8 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................