Abstract: Currently, there is a significant gap between the ideal vision and reality of primary-level government data governance, resulting in a phenomenon of “lag”. At its root, the contradiction between the value demands and realization of technology operation and public management, together with the unclear cost-benefit relationship of data governance leads to “cultural lag”; The ambiguous relationship between “data” and “governance”, the deviation of institutional implementation from institutional interests, and the tension between technological changes and institutional stability result in “institutional lag”; The lack of motivation for data sharing and unclear rights and responsibilities bring about “functional lag”. The government should, therefore, start from the actual situation of primary-level governance and the actual needs of collaborative development, and promote digital transformation from multiple dimensions such as emphasizing people-orientedness, building a digital innovation atmosphere and sustainable technological support system, and improving supporting institutional systems. This will improve the innovative application of data in diverse governance environments, thus effectively bridging the gap between diversity and moving towards good technological governance.

Key words: primary-level government, data governance, lag, digital transformation