Policy attention and the adoption of public sector innovation

Abstract

We explore the nuanced role of policy attention in the adoption of public sector innovation by differentiating it between the issue and dimension levels. Using the case of Chinese online service platforms (OSPs), we find that provinces are more likely to adopt OSPs if they pay more attention to e-government issues or define e-government more as economic-related issues. The findings enrich our understanding of the pivotal role of policy attention in eliciting digital innovations and contribute to the literature on innovation adoption and e-government. Managing policy attention is a more flexible alternative than organizational and environmental leverages to facilitate innovations.