A Strategic Assessment and Evaluation of the Implementation and the Management of Cloud Computing Online Services: Case of the Lebanese Government

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to show where the Lebanese government is in terms of cloud computing compared to other countries in the region. This paper will identify the basic needs of the sample size selected, and test the hypotheses presented. In this dynamic technological environment, moving the Lebanese Government into cloud computing has become a necessity. Many other governments have already switched to the e-Government concept and Lebanon should follow rapidly. The approach of this research will be to conduct an online questionnaire to assess the reaction of respondents and try to gather as much as possible relevant data. The age group will be between 20 and 60 years old and our sample size will be for 500 different email addresses. The literature review showed the different methods used by different countries to ensure the move into cloud computing, along with the challenges that they faced (or still face). The data collected from the questionnaires show that Lebanon is not different from other countries and it is currently facing the same challenges. Data also shows that Lebanon is on the right path to move into the e-Government and it will achieve its objective. This would however require time as well as a change in the government's mindset when it comes to handling the challenges of the new technology as well as new engineering approaches and applications. Citizens' trust is the main driver to transitioning to e-Government. Secondary Data for our research was not available in Lebanon; we had to conduct an online questionnaire to collect the data needed for this research. Approaching the government offices was not helpful as many still see and feel that moving to cloud computing is not a priority currently in Lebanon. Bureaucracy and the political situation still need a major revamping and their current structure and stronghold will complicate the way those government offices can serve citizens. In conclusion, the value of the e-Government would improve the level of services and would increase the citizens' confidence following the implementation of cloud computing.