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Chapter 6
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-1851-9.ch006
ABSTRACT
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) know a steady evolution that leads to the develop-
ment of digital technologies. These afect human lives and organizations’ activities. In particular, they
have become ubiquitous in the public sector almost throughout the world. The extensive use of ICTs in
public administration (PA) contributes to the emergence of digital government. It is perceived as a means
of public value creation and represents a part of a paradigm shift in public management. This chapter
intends to review the milestones of PA reforms in a developing country, namely Tunisia, to highlight
how it is using ICTs to create public value. A content analysis of data on public sector reforms and e-
government strategies is performed. The results show progressive ICTs deployment by Tunisian PA over
time. They illustrate a search to public value creation through the digital government.
INTRODUCTION
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have known continuous progress leading to the
development of digital technologies and simultaneously digital government. These technologies were
recognized for their potential to re-invent the public sector. Benefits result from their capacity to en-
hance the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, reduce costs, and improve communication,
interaction, as well as collaboration between people and public administration (PA) (OECD, 2003; UN,
2002-2018; Gill Garcia et al., 2018). Moreover, it was assumed that they help to build trust, equity and
transparency and to combat corruption (Gross Lopes et al., 2019; Valle-Cruz, 2019). Briefly, according
From E-Government to
Digital Government:
The Public Value Quest in the
Tunisian Public Administration
Fatma Bouaziz
University of Sfax, Faculty of Economics and Management, Tunisia