South American Expert Roundtable : increasing adaptive governance capacity for coping with unintended side effects of digital transformation

This paper presents the main messages of a South American expert roundtable (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of digital transformation. The input of the ERT comprised 39 propositions from 20 experts representing 11 different perspectives. The two-day ERT discussed the main drivers and challenges as well as vulnerabilities or unseens and provided suggestions for: (i) the mechanisms underlying major unseens; (ii) understanding possible ways in which rebound effects of digital transformation may become the subject of overarching research in three main categories of impact: development factors, society, and individuals; and (iii) a set of potential action domains for transdisciplinary follow-up processes, including a case study in Brazil. A content analysis of the propositions and related mechanisms provided insights in the genesis of unseens by identifying 15 interrelated causal mechanisms related to critical issues/concerns. Additionally, a cluster analysis (CLA) was applied to structure the challenges and critical developments in South America. The discussion elaborated the genesis, dynamics, and impacts of (groups of) unseens such as the digital divide (that affects most countries that are not included in the development of digital business, management, production, etc. tools) or the challenge of restructuring small- and medium-sized enterprises (whose service is digitally substituted by digital devices). We identify specific issues and effects (for most South American countries) such as lack of governmental structure, challenging geographical structures (e.g., inclusion in high-performance transmission power), or the digital readiness of (wide parts) of society. One scientific contribution of the paper is related to the presented methodology that provides insights into the phenomena, the causal chains underlying “wanted/positive” and “unwanted/negative” effects, and the processes and mechanisms of societal changes caused by digitalization

Governance of Digitalization in Europe A contribution to the Exploration Shaping Digital Policy - Towards a Fair Digital Society? BertelsmannStiftung Study

Digital policy is a unique policy area. As a cross-cutting policy issue, it has an impact not only on individual areas of regulation but on almost all other policy areas as well. Aspects of digital policy such as data regimes, cybersecurity and standardization issues are relevant not only to the the future of the internet or 5G mobile communications infrastructure, but to other areas of our lives to which they are closely linked, which range from automated driving to digital assistance systems in education and healthcare to the digitalization of sectors such as agriculture and construction. Nevertheless, regulation efforts have thus far been primarily sector-specific and national in their scope. With a few exceptions, such as the EU’s controversial General Data Protection Regulation, there are few digital policy frameworks in place for Europe that defines and integrates basic principles for broad application. Instead, we face a situation in which a variety of approaches stand side by side, at times complementing each other but also – all too often – competing with each other in ways that foster inconsistencies. The development of Europe’s 5G infrastructure is illustrative of this state of affairs. Despite the presence of what were originally uniform objectives across Europe, 28 nationally distinct tendering procedures with different requirements have since emerged. As a result, we must now find ways to manage the problems associated with having three or more networks per country, high costs, a difficult debate over security and the threat of dependency on non-EU providers

The Role of Public Service Broadcasters in the Era of Convergence A Case Study of Televisió de Catalunya

The development of the convergence process has several implications in the reconfiguration of the media landscape. Public services broadcasters have new opportunities to fulfil their public service duties in a new competitive environment, which involves developing new applications on new platforms. Televisió de Catalunya, the public service broadcaster (PSB) of Catalonia, has developed a clear strategy in this new convergent environment, applying its traditional know-how to new interactive and digital media according to its public mission and getting positive feedback.convergence; public service broadcasting; interactive TV; bandwidth; 3G services; multimedia and digital divide

Digitalization of Records for Transparency and Accountability at the Office of Controller of Budget in Nairobi, Kenya

In public agencies, records are the main source of information. Consequently, availability and accessibility of public information is a critical avenue for promoting transparency and accountability. Therefore, information held by the public agencies should be disseminated widely to allow citizens to interact with the information for them to use it by keeping public officers accountable for their actions. There is limited knowledge on how digitalization of records in public institutions promotes transparency and accountability in the public sector. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of digitalization of records for transparency and accountability at the Office of Controller of Budget (OCOB) in Nairobi, Kenya. The objectives of this paper therefore were to: Investigate factors affecting the process of digitalization of public records at the Office of Controller of Budget in Nairobi, Kenya and determine the relationship between digitalization of public records and the level of transparency and accountability.  The study was guided by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The study was undertaken at the OCOB, Nairobi, Kenya. The OCOB staffs were the main participants. However, views from OCOB stakeholders were sought to validate the findings obtained from OCOB. The stakeholders were consumers of budget implementation information created by OCOB. The study used mixed method approach which involved administering questionnaires and interviewed key informants from OCOB. Quantitative data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented graphically in tables, graphs and charts while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that proper digitalization of records at Office of the Budget had enhanced transparency and accountability; proper leadership at OCOB had also enhanced transparency and accountability at OCOB; Inadequate financial support had to some extent affected the digitalization process at OCOB; inadequate infrastructure was a challenge to the digitalization process; reliance on OCOB data had enabled Auditor general to carry out audits on the use of public funds among others. The study concluded that digitalization of records at OCOB had enhanced access to records thus promoting transparency and accountability at the Office of the Controller of Budget. The study recommends that there is need for the management to provide finances to support digitalization at OCOB and proper infrastructure to be put in place to enhance digitalization process; there is need for political good will to prosecute leaders who hold public office but mismanage public finances and there is need to build capacity in terms of digitalization to enhance skills of staff so that the public can access timely and reliable budget information among others. Keywords: Accountability; Digitalization of Records; Office of the Controller of Budget; Public Records, Records Management; Transparency; Kenya. DOI: 10.7176/IKM/13-4-04 Publication date:July 31st 202

Information Society Strategies in the European Context: The Case of Greece

This article sets out to analyze the policies adopted by the Greek government in its effort to accelerate the pace of reform towards a knowledge-based economy. These policies have to take into account the position that the country occupies within the emerging information society and, of course, the opportunities created by EU initiatives that aim to promote economic competitiveness and reduce regional disparities. Within this framework Greek policy makers have recognized the need for a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach, which attempts to diminish inequalities both within the country and with respect to other European Union economies. What emerges as a distinctive feature of the Greek information society strategy is the emphasis placed on the pivotal role of the state and the adoption of active interventionist policies

Digitalization of revenue mobilization in an emerging economy: the new Institutional Theory perspective

This study sought to explore how the institutional environment comprising regulative, normative, and cognitive factors influences the use of technology in revenue mobilization in the public sector of an emerging economy. The study used the new institutional theory as a theoretical lens and a qualitative case study as a methodological stance. Data was collected from the agency in charge of revenue mobilization in the developing economy through interviews. The study established that regulative, normative and cognitive factors influence the digitalization of revenue mobilization. With regards to the regulative pillar, it was revealed that legislation for a revenue authority with a focus on digitalization, legislation for taxpayer identification and legislation for electronic transactions were laws that governed the use of the system and played essential roles in ensuring that the system was used effectively to fully realize its benefits. The cognitive pillar, on the other hand, revealed some challenges faced with the implementation and use of the digital system. The study contributes to the literature on the digitalization of revenue mobilization, which has arguably seen very few studies conducted in Africa, especially in Ghana, hence calling for more future studies on the use of e-revenue systems in developing economies

Holistic Approach: paradigm shift in the research agenda for digitalisation of healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite significant resources employed in the digitalisation agenda in the healthcare sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, the transformative impact of information and communication technologies has not been realised. This article makes two contributions towards developing an understanding of this failure. First, it provides a review of a rich body of academic literature and practitioner accounts regarding barriers to digitalisation and organises them using an established framework. Second, recognising the continuing struggle that digitalisation presents, it proposes a paradigmatic shift in thinking about barriers to digitalisation and suggests the existence of a more fundamental barrier related to inappropriate incentives within the international community. Ultimately, it argues that unpacking the complex contextual reality of healthcare delivery systems is a fundamental but still unaddressed antecedent to any successful digitalisation endeavour. Thus, both the academia and the practitioners should direct their efforts to developing new approaches, which could remove this underlying obstacle

Evaluation of ICT Investments toward an Increased Competitiveness

This paper focus on the analysis of the impact of investments in IT industry in the general frame of globalization and the drafting of a model for evaluation so that to address the subject of the theoretization of possible measures and efforts in strategic resource consumption for growing of IT competitiveness. To reap the gains from globalization it is necessary to undergo a process of adjustment as factors of production – such as investment capital – towards the ITC applications. The extent by which e-Government will make a difference and add value is seen as dependent on three factors: strong leadership, management of the ‘digital divide’, and well managed innovation.ITC; e-government; investments; digital divide; Internet.