Purpose: With the development of information technology (IT), governments around the globe are using state-of-the-art IT interfaces to implement the so-called 3E’s in public service delivery, that is, economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Two of these IT interfaces relate to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). While AI focuses on providing a “human” garb for computing devices, thereby making them “intelligent” devices, IoT relies on interfaces between sensors and the environment to make “intelligent” decisions. Recently, the convergence of AI and IoT – also referred to as Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) – is seen as a real opportunity to refurbish the public service delivery formats. However, there is limited understanding as to how AIoT could contribute to the improvisation of public service delivery. This study aims to create a modular framework for AIoT in addition to highlighting the drivers and barriers for its integration in the public sector.Design/methodology/approach: This descriptive-explanatory study takes a qualitative approach. It entails a thorough examination of the drivers and barriers of integrating AI and IoT in the public sector. A review of literature has led to the development of a conceptual framework outlining the various factors that contribute to creating public value.Findings: Value creation occurs when AI and IoT coalesce in the public service delivery mechanisms.Originality/value: AIoT is a cutting-edge technology revolutionizing health care, agriculture, infrastructure and all other industrial domains. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on the public sector's use of AI and IoT. Understanding these disruptive technologies is critical to formulating policies and regulations that can maximize the potential benefits for the public-sector organizations.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the drivers, barriers, benefits and risks affecting the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) into the e-government and to provide a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: Existing literature examining the relationships between e-government and IoT is scanned and evaluated by conceptualizing the IoT concept in the e-government perspective. Findings: The study shows that there are drivers to integrate IoT in e-government, such as ensuring the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of government operations, which would largely establish a relationship between the government and the citizens. Furthermore, there are barriers to such integration, given the lack of political will, the appropriate information technology infrastructure, the training of the stakeholders with a focus on the employee and the like. Originality/value: The integration of IoT in e-government is a novel and weakly explored concept, particularly in the light of new advances such as blockchain in the e-government, which requires further exploration and conceptualization, thereby achieving a shared/common vision and body of knowledge for its further successful and sustainable adoption – to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current study is one of these initial attempts.

Purpose: The emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected organizations differently, leading to adopting alternative business operation models, including digital technologies. The rapid adoption of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how adaptive technologies intersect with human and social institutions in potentially risky or inequitable ways. However, the sustenance of the digital transformations (DTs) induced by the COVID-19 crisis is still unclear. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the sustenance of DTs accelerated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic response in the Tanzanian context amid the crisis. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative approach that included a literature review and semi-structured interviews with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) personnel from selected public institutions in Tanzania. The interviews elicited interviewees’ perspectives on the following: the digital revolution that occurred during the COVID-19 outbreak; how it affects their work; and the country’s future digital landscape. Additionally, a literature analysis established and generalized the practices used by the governments during the COVID-19 crisis. Findings: The results show that there is enormous, colossal press toward adopting digital solutions. The use of digital technologies, such as digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine and online education, has attracted the attention of businesses and individuals in Tanzania. Consequently, the move has enabled the country to cope with the cascading impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and progressive economic recovery to achieve its development goals. Furthermore, the findings offer policy strategies for taking the induced DTs to the next level and sustaining it. Originality/value: This study reports the lessons from the DTs induced by COVID-19 and their sustenance. It also contributes toward forward-thinking reforms and policy measures that could help Tanzania and the likes harness the DTs'’ potential in the wake of the pandemic.

Purpose: Warehouse receipt system (WRS) schemes aim to revitalize the market of cash crops, particularly those of the smallholder farmers. However, the existing government schemes for the smallholder farmers have not been much successful on account of issues related with transparency and trust deficit, thereby limiting farmers' access to credit for their farming activities as channeled via the formal financial institutions. Conceding that blockchain is an emerging technology, this study aims to theoretically posit the potential to optimize WRS in real time to bolster farmers' trust and privacy.Design/methodology/approach: The research bases itself on the design science research (DSR) approach. Using the DSR approach backed by the literature review and evolutionary prototyping, a blockchain-based WRS has been advanced in the study.Findings: This study provides a design of a digital WRS, which serves as a proof of concept of blockchain technology (BCT) applications in improving transparency in the WRS in the agricultural sector. The findings from this study present the possibility of leveraging blockchain smart contracts to improve the linkages between the WRS stakeholders to promote trust and transparency that would eventually unlock the potentials of WRS schemes. Furthermore, the findings inform decision-makers and practitioners to prioritize the emerging technologies in revamping the classical WRS.Research limitations/implications: The study leaves research pointers for implementing BCT in agricultural supply chain and furthering the findings from the present study with an empirical agenda.Originality/value: Whilst research on the BCT applications across myriad sectors abounds, research on the BCT applications to address societal needs is conspicuously limited. Furthermore, research on the practical implementation of the BCT in real-world scenarios is few and far between. The present study seeks to plug these gaps by underlining the application and utility of blockchain in WRS. The study makes a significant contribution to the theory and practice of the agrarian supply chain management, specifically the WRS, by invoking design knowledge obtained through an iterative design process besides serving as an edifice for the integration of emerging technologies, notably BCT in the agricultural sector.

Purpose: This paper proposes a framework that aligns e-government initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Design/methodology/approach: The study integrates a systematic literature review with case study analysis. The literature review involved an extensive search across multiple scholarly databases to identify relevant studies. Case studies were sourced used a number of criteria with a scoring rubric for selection and evaluation. The analysis of extracted themes and patterns from both the literature and case studies informed the development of the proposed e-government framework and illustrated the causal relationships among its components.Findings: The framework serves as a roadmap for achieving sustainable development through e-government initiatives. It emphasizes critical themes, including inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, sustainability, partnerships and collaboration and innovation and digital transformation.Research limitations/implications: Although efforts were made to include diverse case studies, some regions may be underrepresented, which could affect the generalizability of the framework across all global contexts.Originality/value: This study provides a holistic approach, considering technological, social, economic and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaborations in achieving sustainable development.

Purpose: This paper aims to provide insights into the integration of blockchain technology in e-government services. Design/methodology/approach: The article invokes an exploratory approach to emphasize the possibilities of integrating blockchain technology in e-government services. A cybernetic model is detailed in the paper for bridging the gulf between blockchain and e-government. Findings: The integration of blockchain technology in e-government services is capable of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. Furthermore, this integration would facilitate in maintaining the privacy of the online transactions. Originality/value: Hitherto, studies have focused on the blockchain technology in many sectors; however, the integration and utility of blockchain technology for the government sector have remained unexplored. The current study seeks to fill this gap.