Digital Governance and Public Value Creation: A Conceptual Review of Public Sector Transformation
Keywords:
Digital Governance, Public Value Creation, Digital Transformation, Public Sector Transformation, Collaborative GovernanceAbstract
Digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped public sector governance by shifting the focus from technology-driven administrative modernization toward public value-oriented governance. However, existing studies remain fragmented, often examining digital governance, public value, collaborative governance, and digital transformation as separate research streams. This study aims to develop an integrative conceptual framework explaining how digital governance capabilities contribute to public value creation and support sustainable public sector transformation. The study employs an integrative literature review approach by synthesizing recent scholarly publications on digital governance, public value, collaborative governance, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence in the public sector. The analysis identifies recurring concepts, governance mechanisms, and theoretical relationships across the selected literature. The findings indicate that public value is not generated solely through digital technology adoption but through the interaction of digital leadership, organizational readiness, data governance, collaborative governance, digital service innovation, and citizen co-production. These capabilities are transformed into public value through governance mechanisms that enhance service quality, transparency, accountability, public trust, social inclusion, and government responsiveness, ultimately strengthening institutional resilience and sustainable public sector transformation. This study proposes an integrative conceptual framework that unifies fragmented theoretical perspectives and positions digital governance as a strategic capability for creating sustainable public value. The framework contributes to public administration literature by extending Public Value Theory within the context of digital governance while offering practical guidance for policymakers in designing citizen-centered and value-driven digital transformation strategies.
Downloads
References
Alvarenga, A., Matos, F., Godina, R., & CO Matias, J. (2020). Digital transformation and knowledge management in the public sector. Sustainability, 12(14), 5824. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145824
Benington, J., & Moore, M. (2010). Public value: Theory and practice. Bloomsbury Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-36431-8
Bryson, J. M., Crosby, B. C., & Bloomberg, L. (2014). Public value governance: Moving beyond traditional public administration and the new public management. Public administration review, 74(4), 445-456. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12238
Charles, V., Rana, N. P., & Carter, L. (2022). Artificial intelligence for data-driven decision-making and governance in public affairs. Government Information Quarterly, 39(3), 101742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2022.101742
Cordella, A., & Paletti, A. (2019). Government as a platform, orchestration, and public value creation: The Italian case. Government information quarterly, 36(4), 101409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2019.101409
Djatmiko, G. H., Sinaga, O., & Pawirosumarto, S. (2025). Digital transformation and social inclusion in public services: A qualitative analysis of e-government adoption for marginalized communities in sustainable governance. Sustainability, 17(7), 2908. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072908
Dunleavy, P., & Margetts, H. (2025). Data science, artificial intelligence and the third wave of digital era governance. Public Policy and Administration, 40(2), 185-214. https://doi.org/10.1177/09520767231198737
Eom, S., & Lee, J. (2022). Digital government transformation in turbulent times: Responses, challenges, and future direction. Government Information Quarterly, 39(2), 101663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101663
Janssen, M., Brous, P., Estevez, E., Barbosa, L., & Janowski, T. (2020). Data governance: Organizing data for trustworthy artificial intelligence. Government Information Quarterly, 37(3), 101493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2020.101493
Kuhlmann, S., & Heuberger, M. (2021). Digital transformation going local: Implementation, impacts and constraints from a German perspective. Public Money & Management, 41(8), 605–614. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2021.1916184
Latupeirissa, J. J. P., Dewi, N. L. Y., Prayana, I. K. R., Srikandi, M. B., Ramadiansyah, S. A., & Pramana, I. G. B. T. (2024). Transforming public service delivery: A comprehensive review of digitization initiatives. Sustainability, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072945
Lindquist, E. A. (2022). The digital era and public sector reforms: Transformation or new tools for competing values?. Canadian Public Administration, 65(3), 547-568. https://doi.org/10.1111/capa.12493
Mergel, I., Edelmann, N., & Haug, N. (2019). Defining digital transformation: Results from expert interviews. Government Information Quarterly, 36(4), 101385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2019.06.002
Moore, M. H. (1997). Creating public value: Strategic management in government. Harvard university press.
OECD. (2023). Digital Government Index 2023: Results and Key Findings. OECD Publishing.
Panagiotopoulos, P., Klievink, B., & Cordella, A. (2019). Public value creation in digital government. Government Information Quarterly, 36(4), 101421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2019.101421
Rodríguez Bolívar, M. P. (2026). Advancing public administration research: integrating digital governance, institutional resilience, and participatory pathways for public value. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 92(2), 167-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208523261433893
Sadat, A. (2025). Digital governance and civic inclusion to enhance public participation in political decision-making processes. Frontiers in Political Science, 7, 1671373. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2025.1671373
Schmidthuber, L., Ingrams, A., & Hilgers, D. (2021). Government openness and public trust: The mediating role of democratic capacity. Public Administration Review, 81(1), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13298
Scupola, A., & Mergel, I. (2022). Co-production in digital transformation of public administration and public value creation: The case of Denmark. Government Information Quarterly, 39(1), 101650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101650
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283
UN, E. (2024). Government Survey 2024/United Nations. URL: https://publicadministration. un. org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2024.
Valle-Cruz, D., & García-Contreras, R. (2025). Towards AI-driven transformation and smart data management: Emerging technological change in the public sector value chain. Public Policy and Administration, 40(2), 254-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/09520767231188401
Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The journal of strategic information systems, 28(2), 118-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
Vigoda-Gadot, E., & Mizrahi, S. (2024). The digital governance puzzle: Towards integrative theory of humans, machines, and organizations in public management. Technology in Society, 76, 102448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102448
Waara, Å. (2025). Examining digital government maturity models: Evaluating the inclusion of citizens. Administrative Sciences, 15(3), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030073
Yukhno, A. (2024). Digital transformation: Exploring big data governance in public administration. Public Organization Review, 24(1), 335-349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-022-00694-x
Zuiderwijk, A., Chen, Y.-C., & Salem, F. (2021). Implications of the use of artificial intelligence in public governance: A systematic literature review and a research agenda. Government Information Quarterly, 38(3), 101577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101577
