Uncertainty Avoidance, Power Distance, and Transformational Government: A Dual-Pathway Analysis of Electronic Government in Tanzania

The rapid expansion of digital government initiatives has transformed public-sector service delivery, yet achieving transformational government outcomes remains uneven, particularly in developing-country contexts. While existing research has predominantly focused on technological and organisational drivers, limited attention has been given to the role of cultural factors in shaping digital transformation. This study examines national culture as a structural determinant of transformational government, focusing on the direct and indirect effects of uncertainty avoidance, mediated through electronic government, alongside the direct effect of power distance on transformational government. Drawing on a contextual perspective of information systems, the study conceptualises culture not as a peripheral moderator but as a foundational force that shapes both digital capability and governance outcomes. A quantitative research design was employed, using survey data collected from 1,370 users of e-government services in Tanzania. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), enabling the simultaneous assessment of direct and mediating relationships. The findings show that uncertainty avoidance significantly influences electronic government and transformational government, and that power distance and electronic government significantly influence transformational government. Furthermore, electronic government partially mediates the relationship between uncertainty avoidance and transformational government, revealing a dual pathway through which culture shapes transformation. These findings demonstrate that digital transformation is not solely a technological process but is deeply embedded in cultural and institutional contexts. The study contributes to the literature by advancing a contextualised understanding of digital government transformation and by highlighting the importance of culturally aligned policy design and implementation strategies in developing countries.