Exploring strategic leadership challenges in achieving an ICT enabled transformational government

Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Marwan Elnaghi II Abstract 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. A Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Marwan Elnaghi III Acknowledgement 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. A Abstract, Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Acknowledgement, and Table of contents Marwan Elnaghi IV 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.