Network analysis of disconnect in the hollow state: the case of e-government service portals

The use of network arrangement in the development and implementation of e-government service portals is on its increase. Yet, research on network arrangement in sourcing service portals still lags behind developments in practice. This paper uses a network analysis perspective to identify any disconnect in the network arrangement in the sourcing of e-government service portals. We analyzed the hyperlink information embedded within e-government service portals to map out the network cohesion between and among governmental agencies and third parties. The results of this study found that although government is harnessing both the private and social capital, private firms remain as the key providers whereas non-profit organizations tend to loose out in both technology and information sourcing.