Exploring Digital Transformation in Public Administration: A Qualitative Study

Digital transformation has become a key driver of change in public administration, reshaping institutional processes, service delivery, and interactions with citizens. This paper explores how public servants involved in the implementation of digital transformation perceive it within Romanian local public administration. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study addresses seven research questions aimed at identifying perceptions related to implementation challenges, technological adoption, organizational change, and anticipated outcomes. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using NVivo (version 14) qualitative data analysis software. The findings indicate that a set of interrelated factors shapes digital transformation in local public administration. While the adoption of digital technologies contributes to improved efficiency, enhanced transparency, reduced bureaucracy, faster document processing, and better citizen engagement, it also presents significant challenges. These challenges include budgetary constraints, resistance to change, and difficulties related to the adaptation and training of public servants. Overall, the results underscore the need for coherent digital strategies that integrate technological innovation with human resource development and institutional capacity-building in the public sector.