How Do E-Government System Configurations Differ Between High and Low EGDI Countries? Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Approach

This study explores how different configurations of e-government components contribute to national governance performance across countries with varying levels of digital development. Leveraging a configurational approach, the research employs Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to analyze 90 countries categorized into High-EGDI and Low-EGDI groups based on the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI). Drawing from UN E-Government Survey and World Governance Indicators (WGI), the study constructs a composite governance index through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and identifies multiple configurations of e-government elements that lead to high governance outcomes. The findings reveal that in High-EGDI countries, service provision emerges as a necessary condition, and governance performance is driven by configurations integrating institutional frameworks, technological infrastructure, and high-quality services. In contrast, for Low-EGDI countries, no single factor is deemed necessary, and governance improvement depends on institutional stability and multifaceted strategies. This study contributes to both theory and practice by integrating Socio-Technical Theory (STT), offering nuanced insights into the interplay of technological and institutional factors, and presenting policy recommendations tailored to digital maturity levels. The results underscore the importance of adopting context-sensitive strategies for sustainable e-government development and bridging the global digital divide.