Advancing Digital Government: Integrating Open Source Software Enablement Indicators in Maturity Indexes

2025-10-06

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of systematic measurement of open-source software (OSS) adoption in digital government maturity assessments. Through desk research and semi-structured interviews, it conducts a cross-national comparative analysis of OSS policies and support mechanisms across 16 high-maturity digital governments. The study develops, for the first time, a 14-item “open-source enablers” framework—spanning policy design and implementation support—thereby filling a critical gap in international digital government assessment frameworks regarding the open-source ecosystem dimension. It identifies the prevalence of centrally driven policy models and empirically confirms the pivotal role of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) in capacity building and sustainable governance. The findings provide a theoretically grounded, empirically validated framework to integrate OSS reuse and collaborative development dimensions into digital government maturity indices.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Humanities & Computational Social Science
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Linked Open Data, Knowledge Graphs & KB Completion

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital health
• Responsible Web: Technology governance, policy, and regulations

Abstract

Context: Open Source Software (OSS) is a vital public good, included across most of modern software stacks, significantly impacting GDP and national tech growth, while supporting interoperability, sovereignty, and transparency. However, systematic measurement of governmental OSS adoption remain limited. Research Aim: This study contributes to digital government maturity indexes by analyzing policies and support actions leveraging OSS for software reuse and collaborative development across 16 digitally mature countries, and proposing potential indicators for said indexes. It examines OSS policy formation, stated goals, key actors, and support mechanisms. Methodology: A qualitative approach is used combining desk research of policy documents with semi-structured interviews of government representatives, producing detailed country reports. These are cross-analyzed, focusing on OSS policy promotion, rationale, and implementation support. Results: Policies facilitating OSS reuse are widespread, targeting both inbound acquisition and outbound sharing, and are predominantly governed by central public sector organizations. Policy goals include interoperability, digital sovereignty, transparency, and cost efficiency, with security framed both as a risk and strength. Implementation is supported by diverse Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) at multiple government levels, which foster capacity building, resource pooling, and sustainable project governance. Indicators are synthesized and proposed across 14 areas covering policy incentives and design, and implementation and support. Conclusions: OSS is a strategic enabler for public sector digital transformation. Clear policy frameworks, coupled with institutional support such as OSPOs, are essential. International digital maturity frameworks should expand OSS indicators to better guide and assess government adoption and impact.

Problem

• Measuring governmental Open Source Software adoption systematically remains limited
• Developing indicators for digital government maturity indexes using OSS policies
• Analyzing OSS policy frameworks and implementation support across countries

Innovation

• Qualitative analysis of OSS policies and support mechanisms
• Proposes OSS adoption indicators for maturity indexes
• Highlights Open Source Program Offices for implementation support