Abstract
Digital transformation, as the dominant trend of the 21st century, has transformed the public administration system and has confronted governments with new governance models. Digital governance, which is based on information technology, transparency, accountability, and citizen data-driven participation, is considered a new approach in public administration, and identifying its components and requirements for its realization is of particular importance. The aim of the present study is to explain the mental model of digital governance and analyze the requirements for its implementation in the country's governance system. This study was conducted with a combined qualitative-quantitative approach and based on the Q method. Initially, 21 propositions were obtained through document analysis and specialized interviews, and then they were Q-sorted by 17 experts in the field of digital governance. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was used to extract the participants' mental models. The research sample was selected from key institutions such as the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Economy, the Administrative and Employment Organization, the Civil Registration Organization, and other related agencies. The findings show that the six main components of digital leadership, technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, data management, legal frameworks, and stakeholder engagement, form the core of digital governance, and their successful implementation requires institutional, cultural, technological, and legal requirements. Finally, a “four-level model of digital governance deployment” is presented, including managerial, technical, data-driven, and institutional dimensions, which can serve as a basis for policymaking and planning for digital transformation in the country’s administrative system.