Development of a Service-Oriented Interoperability Framework: The Botswana E-Government System Case Study

Abstract

Efficient information exchange between government entities and citizens is crucial for effective governmental service delivery. However, e-government systems in developing countries like Botswana face challenges due to a lack of communication and integration among these systems. This case study addresses the interoperability challenges in Botswana's e-government systems by exploring and documenting the development of the e-government service-oriented interoperability framework (e-GSOIF). This framework integrates various technological and methodological approaches to improve service delivery and efficiency. It incorporates service-oriented architecture (SOA), event-driven architecture (EDA), ontologies, a refined software development lifecycle methodology, and the interoperability practical implementation support (IPIS) approach. The study pinpoints key factors impacting e-government system implementation and interoperability in Botswana through interviews, questionnaires, and observation. It also identifies essential technical components for E-Government Interoperability. The e-GSOIF framework is evaluated against the original IPIS framework using exploratory factor analysis and compatibility assessment with predefined functionality criteria, demonstrating its superiority. This article targets government officials, IT specialists, researchers, and students interested in e-government services interoperability. It offers insights into advancing the landscape of e-government service delivery through an effective interoperability framework.