Strategic planning for digital technology adoption: drivers and mechanisms in the public sector

While strategic planning facilitates public sector digital transformation, it remains unclear why public sectors engage in shaping strategic plans for digital adoption. This study employs the 3Ps framework (People–Process–Plan) to construct an adapted explanatory model of these driving factors. Adopting a longitudinal case study (2019–2024), it investigates a Chinese local government’s digital anti-corruption strategizing based on 28 interviews. Findings extend the 3Ps framework by conceptualizing People as multiple stakeholders, differentiating Process into mutually evolving constructive and conflictual processes, revealing the moderating role of resource accessibility, and demonstrating the feedback effect of implementation outcomes on ongoing Strategic Plans, ultimately advancing digital strategizing from static compliance to a purposeful, dynamic closed-loop system.