Proxy of democracy? : metaphors of connection as arguments against representation

This paper aims to assess the arguments that claim representative democracy may be enhanced or replaced by an updated electronic version. Focusing on the dimension of elections and electioneering as the core mechanism of representative democracy I will discuss: (1) the proximity argument used to claim the necessity of filling the gap between decision-makers and stakeholders; (2) the transparency argument, which claims to remove obstacles to the publicity of power; (3) the bottom-up argument, which calls for a new form of legitimacy that goes beyond classical mediation of parties or unions; (4) the public sphere argument, referred to the problem of hierarchical relation between voters and their representatives; (5) the disintermediation argument, used to describe the (supposed) new form of democracy following the massive use of ICTs. The first way of conceptualizing e-democracy as different from mainstream 20th century representative democracy regimes is to imagine it as a new form direct democracy: this conception is often underlying contemporary studies of e-voting. To avoid some of the ingenuousness of this conception of e-democracy, we should take a step back and consider a broader range of issues than mere gerrymandering around the electoral moment. Therefore I shall problematize the abovementioned approach by analyzing a wider range of problems connected to election and electioneering in their relation with ICTs

Developing the vision: preparing teachers to deliver a digital world-class education system

In 2008 Australians were promised a \u27Digital Education Revolution\u27 by the government to dramatically change classroom education and build a \u27world-class education system\u27. Eight billion dollars have been spent providing computer equipment for upper secondary classrooms, yet there is little evidence that a revolution has occurred in Australian schools. Transformation of an education system takes more than a simplistic hardware solution. Revolutions need leaders and leaders need vision. In this paper, I argue that we must first develop educational leaders by inspiring future teachers with a vision and by designing our teacher-education courses as technology-rich learning-spaces. A multi-layered scenario is developed as the inspiration for a vision of a future-orientated teacher-education system that prepares teachers to deliver a \u27worldclass digital education\u27 for every Australian child. Although written for the Australian context this paper has broad relevance internationally for teacher education

Beyond Digital Data and Information Technology: Conceptualizing Data-Driven Culture

Background: The role of a data-driven culture in improving organizational performance is widely recognized, but its conceptual definition lacks uniformity, leading to the existence of various constructs. This paper proposes a guiding framework for a data-driven culture, aiming to foster a unified understanding that aids both researchers and practitioners in the information systems (IS) field. Method: Adopting a qualitative research approach, this study conducts a systematic literature review to discern the breadth and depth of data-driven culture as portrayed in previous works. Alongside this, ten interviews were carried out with professionals well-versed in the application of data-driven strategies. Results: The study uncovers the multifaceted nature of a data-driven culture, highlighting its influence on decision-making practices within organizations. It identifies a range of characteristics relevant to the construct and consolidates these into an integrative framework, thereby developing a conceptual definition for data-driven culture. Conclusion: The paper contributes to the IS field by providing a framework that illuminates the concept of data-driven culture. This new understanding aids researchers in consistently theorizing the same phenomenon, supports the development of refined metrics for assessing data-driven culture, and paves the way for future research in this area. For practitioners, this framework delineates the characteristics of a data-driven culture and their interplay, enabling a more informed approach to cultural change efforts. Moreover, it highlights the importance of acknowledging the wider cultural context, and provides mechanisms to balance the emphasis on tools and values

Organization Development for Social Change

The field of organization development (OD) has emerged from efforts to improve the performance of organizations, largely in the for-profit sector but more recently in the public and not-for-profit sectors as well. This paper examines how OD concepts and tools can be used to solve problems and foster constructive change at the societal level as well. It examines four areas in which OD can make such contributions: (1) strengthening social change-focused organizations, (2) scaling up the impacts of such agencies, (3) creating new inter-organizational systems, and (4) changing contexts that shape the action of actors strategic to social change. It discusses examples and the kinds of change agent roles and interventions that are important for each. Finally, it discusses some implications for organization development intervention, practitioners, and the field at large.This publication is Hauser Center Working Paper No. 25. The Hauser Center Working Paper Series was launched during the summer of 2000. The Series enables the Hauser Center to share with a broad audience important works-in-progress written by Hauser Center scholars and researchers

Mapping Precariousness

The condition of precariousness not only provides insights into a segment of the world of work or of a particular subject group, but is also a privileged standpoint for an overview of the condition of the social on a global scale. Because precariousness is multidimensional and polysemantic, it traverses contemporary society and multiple contexts, from industrial to class, gender, family relations as well as political participation, citizenship and migration. This book maps the differences and similarities in the ways precariousness and insecurity in employment unfold and are subjectively experienced in regions and sectors that are confronted with different labour histories, legislations and economic priorities. Establishing a constructive dialogue amongst different global regions and across disciplines, the chapters explore the shift from precariousness to precariat and collective subjects as it is being articulated in the current global crisis. This edited collection aims to continue a process of mapping experiences by means of ethnographies, fieldwork, interviews, content analysis, where the precarious define their condition and explain how they try to withdraw from, cope with or embrace it

Design smart city apps using activity theory.

In this paper we describe an innovative approach to the design process of Smart City interventions. We tested it with participants enrolled in the Master\u2019s Degree program in \u201cInnovators in enterprise and public administration\u201d: the objective of the Master was to stimulate the acquisition of technical and methodological skills useful in designing and implementing specific Smart City actions. During the "project work" phase, participants learned about a design method named SAM \u2013 Smart City Model - based on the Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). We present an overview of design criteria for Smart City projects, the description of the theoretical framework of Activity Theory, and our proposal of the SAM design model. We also present some examples of student\u2019s \u201cprojects\u201d and a more extensive description of one case study about the full design process of an App planned using SAM, for \u201csmart health\u201d vaccine management and monitoring services. The App was later published and made available to the citizens and was successful in attracting thousands of users. All the participants considered the model very useful in particular because it made possible to understand the interaction and solve contradictions between different stakeholders and systems involved

Conceptualizing Control Configurations: A Control Theory Perspective on Outsourced Information Systems Development

Past research on information systems development outsourcing (ISD-outsourcing) has found control theory to be a useful perspective for examining the co-ordination between the client and the vendor. Research on ISD-outsourcing has uncovered two distinct control mechanisms: structural and process control mechanisms. The structural control mechanism describes “what”, that is, the structure of the control mode, whereas the process control mechanism explains “how”, that is the process through which the control mode is enacted. Although the control literature discusses structural and process control mechanisms, it does not describe the ways in which control mechanisms can be combined for ensuring project success. Grounded in case study data from fifteen interviews in eight ISD-outsourcing projects, we conceptualise five control configurations describing the different combinative patterns of control mechanisms within and across control modes. Then, we identify the relationship between control configuration types and ISD-outsourcing project success