The effect of digital transformation on bureaucratic management culture in public administration: A comparative analysis

Digitalization is a multi-layered transformation process that creates profound effects across all domains. Public administration has inevitably been influenced by this process, with goals such as speed, efficiency, and transparency becoming increasingly prominent in public service delivery. However, the literature has largely focused on the technical infrastructure and service-oriented dimensions of digitalization, while its reflections on bureaucratic administrative culture—and the ways in which these effects may differ between central and local levels of government—have not been sufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap by examining the impact of digitalization on bureaucratic culture in public administration and whether these effects vary according to administrative level. The research is based on a survey conducted in the province of Kayseri with 446 public employees working in institutions representing central government (the governor's office) and local government (the metropolitan municipality). The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, and the participants' levels of adaptation to digital processes, changes in work practices, and the effects on administrative values and bureaucratic norms were evaluated comparatively. The findings reveal that digitalization simultaneously strengthens both contemporary administrative values—such as participation, transparency, and trust—and traditional bureaucratic principles such as formality and hierarchy. Moreover, it was found that digitalization tends to reinforce rule-based and centralized structure in central government institutions, while supporting values such as flexibility, participation, and openness in local administrations. These results indicate that digitalization does not lead to a uniform or one-dimensional transformation in public administration, but instead generates a multidimensional process that is responsive to institutional structure. In conclusion, the study demonstrates through empirical data that digitalization in public administration is not merely a tool for service delivery or a form of technical modernization; it also triggers a multi-layered process that transforms bureaucratic culture, institutional values, and administrative norms. In doing so, it offers an original contribution to the literature by addressing the often-overlooked cultural effects and institutional differences associated with digital transformation.