Institutional Pressures or Organizational Capacity? Antecedents of Digital Maturity in Local Governments

ABSTRACT

Public administration research has identified institutional pressures and organizational capacity as digital maturity (DM) antecedents, yet these are typically considered in isolation. Taking the proverbial next step, this study draws on primary survey data to explain the variation of DM among local governments in Flanders (the northern region of Belgium) by juxtaposing the explanatory power of institutional pressures on the one hand, and political and administrative capacity on the other hand. Using multiple regression analyses, our findings highlight the critical role of administrative capacity in advancing DM among local governments. In contrast, and somewhat surprisingly, political capacity and institutional pressures appear to play a more limited role. These findings challenge conventional assumptions in existing literature, indicating that institutional pressures may catalyze the initial stages of DT, whereas organizational capacity seems to be more influential in sustaining and advancing DM.