Empirical analysis of open government data usage in Tanzania
| Date | 19 April 2023 |
| Pages | 73-84 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-10-2022-0098 |
| Published date | 19 April 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Library & information services,Lending,Document delivery,Collection building & management,Stock revision,Consortia |
| Author | Deo Shao |
Empirical analysis of open government data
usage in Tanzania
Deo Shao
Department of Information Systems and Technology, College of Informatics and Virtual Education,
The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Abstract
Purpose –Despite the potential benefits of open government data (OGD) and its recent adoption by many governments, little is known about
monitoring its use by the public. This paper aims to address the knowledge gap by empirically examining OGD usage in Tanzania.
Design/methodology/approach –Afield survey design was used to gather quantitative data from 288 people in seven regions of Tanzania to
facilitate an analysis of the determinants of users’behavioural intention and use behaviour of OGD. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and
Use of Technology model, the study analysed the tendencies of these determinants on the use of the OGD portal.
Findings –The results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions affect users’acceptance
and use of the OGD portal. The results suggest that OGD initiatives should focus more on their potential applications than publication. It is
important to monitor and evaluate OGD use and the conditions that allow it to continue. By linking OGD with other government initiatives,
governments can build strategies, capacity and social awareness. During the development of OGD platforms for extensive reuse, new data
technologies like the semantic web should be considered.
Originality/value –Hitherto, research has underlined the significance of OGD initiatives at large and that studies in deve loping countries are
scarce, especially that probe the uptake of the current efforts. The present study seeks to plug this research gap by examining the use of OGD in
Tanzania’s context.
Keywords OGD acceptance, Open data, Open government data, Open government, Open government data portal, UTAUT model
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Open government data (OGD) is built on the premise that
governments should publish the data sets for use by
stakeholders. In OGD, the datasets are made available license-
free and free of cost, making it the hallmark of contemporary
democratic practices. As a result, many countries have
established OGD initiatives to promote transparency and
accountability in public administration and promote self-
empowerment to citizens through the reuse of data (Ansari
et al.,2022;Bertot et al., 2010). Furthermore, the benefits of
OGD have been extended to an economic sector where it is
seen as an essential component to boostsocial and commercial
innovation that, in turn, will benefit the economy (Juell et al.,
2014).
Furthermore, McKinsey analysts estimated that the
availability of open data and its use would boost economic
growth by unlocking potential around data and its application
(Chui et al.,2014;Manyika et al.,2013). On the same note, the
European Commission in 2018 (HMT, 2018) estimated that
using open data by EU manufacturers could boost EU
economic growth by an additional 1.9% by 2020. Evidence
shows that, across all core public sector data assets, open data
would provide 0.5% of gross domestic product (GDP)
economic value yearly than closed data users have to pay for
access (ODI, 2016).
However, it has been challenging for developing countries,
such as Tanzania, to reap these plentiful benefits due to the
poor quality and immaturity of OGD initiatives (Shao and
Saxena, 2018;Moshi and Shao, 2021). The critical tenet
required for realizing the OGD benefits is promoting its use to
generate socio-economic values (Sunlight Foundation, 2018).
Saxena (2018) emphasized that adopting OGD is only
beneficial when thereis a clearstrategy to facilitate its use.
The facilitation of OGD use strategies must engage all
stakeholders of the OGD ecosystem. The OGD stakeholders
include data producers, facilitatorsand end users (Attard et al.,
2016). OGD producers open data from different sectors such
as health, education, tourism and transport. The OGD
facilitators provide means of publishing the data sets to be
accessible to the public. This group includes data curators and
data platform maintainers. Finally, OGD end users use the
OGD in their activities, such as software application
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2398-6247.htm
Information Discovery and Delivery
52/1 (2024) 73–84
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2398-6247]
[DOI 10.1108/IDD-10-2022-0098]
The author expresses sincere gratitude to the University of Dodoma for its
crucial assistance throughout the course of this research. The project’s
success was heavily reliant on the financial, technical, and intellectual
support provided by the university. The author acknowledges the valuable
support received from academic mentors, peers, and personal networks,
including faculty members, colleagues, friends, and family.
Received 10 October 2022
Revised 21 December 2022
13 February 2023
Accepted 25 February 2023
73
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