Examination of e-government research centers: A model proposal for Turkey

Examination, support, and development of e-Government research centers are beneficial in terms of activating the e-Government ecosystem. In addition, it is understood that it is important to provide conceptual development and examine and develop existing or planned applications on a scientific basis regarding e-Government studies through such centers. In this study, the issue of acquiring an academic perspective in the field of e-Government and e-Transformation through an institutional structure and centers established within universities has been evaluated in terms of the sustainability of the e-Government ecosystem. In this sense, first of all, a literature review was conducted to reveal the conceptual and theoretical framework of e-Government. Then, the leading e-Government research centers in the world and the e-Government research centers that have been active for a while or are still active in Turkey were examined. Centers; official websites, documents, articles, and archives were examined and archive analyzes and interviews were carried out regarding closed centers. In the thesis study, it is understood that there is a need for a new research center established within a university that is specialized in the field of e-Government; has a flexible and independent structure, is financially well-supported, equipped with the necessary authority, with a strong organizational structure, and qualified human resources, and has the capacity of carrying out its work with the participation of the stakeholders who constitute e-Government ecosystem. Therefore, an e-Government Research Center Model for Turkey has been developed as a proposal, based on the remarkable features of the aforementioned centers, which stand out as successful examples, contribute to e-Government studies and ensure sustainability.