JeDEM - eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government
Not a member yet
288 research outputs found
Sort by
Open science and the academic profession
No full textOpen science is considered a new science paradigm to make research accessible, accountable, and effective. Open science is already changing the academic profession starting from micro-practices to professional relations with epistemic communities and stakeholders, with implications that we are not yet able to predict. The article delves first into literature and official documentation to unfold the discursive regimes which sustain the spread of open science. A specific focus is then devoted to the professional transition, highlighting the role of funding organizations in setting the new science environment and the subjective experience of academics. The article is completed by a case study in the field of Research Data Management where the misalignment among incumbent/changing processes can be more apparent. Finally, a research agenda that focuses on how academic micro-practices are affecting organizations and science structures is proposed. This article aims at beginning to plow the ground for new research directions to emerge
Mechanisms underpinning the usage of e-government services by businesses: A proposal based on previous empirical research
No full textFor many years, the public sector has been undergoing digital transformation. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have offered new ways of interaction between governments and their constituents. However, governments face different challenges to migrate users towards digital channels and electronic documents, which are believed to be more cost-efficient for all stakeholders. Despite a plethora of empirical research conducted towards the identification of factors that influence e-government services usage by businesses, there seems to be a lack of 'holistic' understanding in the absence of systematic literature reviews. This paper aims to contribute by hypothesizing a set of mechanisms based on a critical realist process of retroduction. We argue that the factors identified in previous research are a manifestation of mechanisms. Such mechanisms might explain businesses’ usage of ICT when interacting with governments, whether in the context of incidental situations or regular administrative tasks (through online self-service applications) or regular exchange of information (through inter-organizational e-services)
I Agree to Terms and Conditions: Negotiating Privacy Online in Central Asia
No full textThis study explores the formation of privacy as a value for different stakeholders in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Building on fieldwork in the two states, the study represents one of the few attempts to map out the interpretations and practices of privacy in Central Asia. The rapid digitalization processes unfolding in these two countries, which have similar cultural and historical roots, provide an illustrative setting of how privacy can be scrutinized in dissimilar political contexts, how its value is defined by the policies of the past, and what the apparent and dormant risks for society are.
Towards value-creating and sustainable open data ecosystems: A comparative case study and a research agenda
No full textCurrent open data systems lag behind in their promised value creation and sustainability. The objective of the current study is twofold: 1) to investigate whether existing open data systems meet the requirements of open data ecosystems, and 2) to develop a research agenda that discusses the gaps between current open data systems on the one hand and participatory, value-creating, sustainable open data ecosystems on the other hand. The literature reveals that the main characteristics of value-creating, sustainable open data ecosystems are user-drivenness, inclusiveness, circularity, and skill-based. Our comparative case study of five open data systems in various application domains and countries highlighted that none of these systems are real open data ecosystems: they often do not balance open data supply and demand, exclude specific user groups and domains, are linear, and lack skill-training. We elaborate on a research agenda that discusses how research should address the challenge of making open data ecosystems more value-generating and sustainable
Remote Usability Assessment of Topic Visualization Interfaces with Public Participation Data: A Case Study
No full textCitizen participation often faces challenges of transparency and accountability. Visualizations’s usability becomes key for public consultation activities. The tree map is frequently used to disseminate data and to give it back to the population. The purpose of this study is to understand how tree maps and stacked barcharts differ in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in tasks, like solving topic categorization and comparison analysis tasks. An experimental design was used to examine user performance based on a task-based usability test. 34 participants interacted remotely with data visualizations from an open 2016 participatory constitution-making process. The ANOVA showed that stacked barcharts work significantly better for comparison tasks than the tree map, but there are no significant differences in regards to categorization tasks. Public participation initiatives should first determine what cognitive operations their users perform before deciding which visualization interfaces will be more useful for the intended public
Coproducing spatial information: Exploring government approaches and motivations at the local level
No full textRecent government initiatives like e-government and open government have led to broader adoption of geospatial tools including mapping platforms to access, use, and analyze open data. These advancements open channels for coproduction in the form of sharing information, change notifications, opinions, or requests to government, based on citizen observation and local knowledge. Though current government initiatives have substantial potentials for coproduction, the practical adoption and implementation of such practices vary reflecting the purposes, contexts, and motivations of those involved. This paper aims to understand how local governments are following different approaches to coproduce information with citizens and what motivates local governments in this process. We report findings based on interviews with 11 cities from the USA and Canada, which reveal four main approaches: the collection of new data, observation of changes, collection of opinions, and observation of preferences involving both explicit and implicit processes. Although these four approaches result from interactions between citizens and government, our findings also indicate a key role to be played by technology and partner organizations
Values, Benefits, Considerations and Risks of AI in Government: A Study of AI Policies in Sweden
No full textThere is currently an ongoing, global race to develop, implement and make use of AI in both the private and public sector. How AI will affect responsibilities and public values to be upheld by government remains to be seen. This paper analyzes how AI is portrayed in Swedish policy documents and what values are attributed to the use of AI, based on an established e-government value framework. Statements are identified in policy documents and are coded into one of four value ideal, as well as being either a benefit, consideration, or risk. We conclude that there is discrepancy in the policy level discourse concerning AI between the different value ideals and that the discourse surrounding AI may be overly optimistic. A more nuanced view of AI in government is needed for creating realistic expectations
The Digital Transformation of Italy’s Public Sector: Government Cannot Be Left Behind!
No full textItaly’s digital performance does not fare well in the international rankings. Italy has tried disparate options for digitally transforming the public sector. Throughout the years, different governments introduced different types of governance but, unfortunately, the situation has not improved. Most recently, though, there have been signs of change. The country is experiencing a new awareness; the new challenges that the digital transition is generating are becoming a policy priority. Continuity and consistency in the country’s digital strategy are reasons to believe that the digital transformation of the public sector may be on the right track at last
Connecting Environmental Action to E-participation Design for Young People
No full textThe paper offers a conceptual analysis and a case study research on the design of e-participation in environmental policy-making for young people. This is achieved by connecting the concept of environmental action with e-participation design. Through a literature review, four core dimensions of environmental action for young people are identified: ownership, participation, stakes in the future and experience. Through a case study of research conducted for an applied project aimed at designing and piloting a novel e-participation solution, the paper shows how young people, implicitly see the connections between these four dimensions of environmental action and the e-participation process. The dimensions of environmental action have, then been used as the basis for co-creation activities and for a subsequent evaluation of e-participation. The results support the position that environmental action can underpin the design and can increase e-participation capacity in environmental policy-making for young people