Article: Using diffusion theory to determine the digital divide in e-services: two UK local-area perspectives Journal: Electronic Government, an International Journal (EG) 2007 Vol.4 No.3 pp.345 - 359 Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the translation of the national policies at local levels in order to draw some conclusions about the impact of the strategies upon an equitable distribution of an e-society in terms of ethnicity and disadvantaged groups, such as the elderly and disabled. Three data-gathering activities were conducted in the UK local areas of Hillingdon and Medway. The findings of this study illustrate that by employing the diffusion theory of King et al., the local government policies are reducing the digital divide. However, the danger does exist that in the pursuit of providing an equitable distribution of the e-society, a novel and diverse form of digital divide, a rural-and-urban-and-diverse-ethnic-groups divide, could occur. This research should offer a substantial contribution to various stakeholders, including government agencies, management consulting firms, internet service providers and Information Technology (IT) organisations, who may want to identify areas where e-government services can still be improved. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Using diffusion theory to determine the digital divide in e-services: two UK local-area perspectives

Authors: Jyoti Choudrie, Willem-Paul Brinkman, Ravinder Pathania

Addresses: Business School, DeHavilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, UK. ' School of Information Systems, Brunel University St. Johns, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Information Systems, Brunel University St. Johns, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the translation of the national policies at local levels in order to draw some conclusions about the impact of the strategies upon an equitable distribution of an e-society in terms of ethnicity and disadvantaged groups, such as the elderly and disabled. Three data-gathering activities were conducted in the UK local areas of Hillingdon and Medway. The findings of this study illustrate that by employing the diffusion theory of King et al., the local government policies are reducing the digital divide. However, the danger does exist that in the pursuit of providing an equitable distribution of the e-society, a novel and diverse form of digital divide, a rural-and-urban-and-diverse-ethnic-groups divide, could occur. This research should offer a substantial contribution to various stakeholders, including government agencies, management consulting firms, internet service providers and Information Technology (IT) organisations, who may want to identify areas where e-government services can still be improved.

Keywords: e-services; diffusion theory; digital divide; e-government; ethnic minorities; electronic services; online servies; electronic government; disadvantaged groups; elderly; disabled; local government; UK; United Kingdom.

DOI: 10.1504/EG.2007.014167

Electronic Government, an International Journal, 2007 Vol.4 No.3, pp.345 - 359

Published online: 24 Jun 2007 *

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Title: Using diffusion theory to determine the digital divide in e-services: two UK local-area perspectives

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