Digital Transformation and Governance Innovation in Public Administration:Challenges, Enablers, and a Strategic Implementation Framework

Abstract

Digital transformation has become a central strategic priority for public administration, reshaping citizen–government relationships, service delivery, and internal governance. Despite growing research and practice, a unified, evidence-based framework explaining how such transformation unfolds remains lacking. This study addresses that gap through a mixed-method approach, combining a systematic review of 118 peer-reviewed studies (2005–2025) with qualitative analysis of 16 government digital initiatives across Asia, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on institutional theory, dynamic capabilities theory, and technology adoption models, the study introduces the Public Sector Digital Transformation Framework (PS-DTF). This framework identifies six key enablers: technology infrastructure readiness, digital leadership capacity, data governance maturity, citizen-centric design, interoperability architecture, and change management capability. The findings highlight that leadership commitment and data governance maturity are both the most critical and the most underfunded components. Weaknesses in these areas often hinder successful transformation. The study also shows that digital exclusion emerges when citizen-centric design is approached purely as a technical issue rather than a broader social and political challenge. Additionally, institutional pressures often drive governments to adopt digital technologies in ways that prioritize conformity over meaningful organizational change, resulting in a gap between stated strategies and actual outcomes. Overall, the study offers a theoretically grounded and empirically supported framework for understanding public sector digital transformation. It contributes to academic literature by integrating cross-national evidence and provides practical policy recommendations to help governments better manage the governance, inclusivity, and implementation challenges associated with digital transformation.