EXPLAINING AN E-IDENTIFICATION FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION USING DIALECTICS

This article analyses the challenges of implementing a new electronic identification (eID) framework in Finland. We employ the theoretical lens of dialectics to explain how two opposing forces in the form of public and private actors, the government and banks respectively, engaged in a process of resistance and acquiescence. By interviewing the key organizations from both sides, we identify the rationale of the conflict, mechanisms that have led and may lead to further conflict, and the outcome. The root cause of the problems with the framework include the conflicting goals of the government and banks: the regulators’ interests to create more competition in the market, generate cost savings, decrease the dependence on banks vs. the objectives of the banks to maintain the status quo. Moreover, the framework implementation practices, such as the hard enforcement strategy, an inherent infrastructuring mindset of the government and communication problems, have considerably contributed to further conflict development. As a result, divergent views on the framework architecture and the pricing models are the outcomes of the confrontation. Our findings emphasize the importance of strategic and operational coherence in the governance of a changing ecosystem with a proprietary banking platform playing a role in a national eID scheme

Migrants face Barriers to Obtaining Electronic Identification : A population-based Study Among Older Russian-speakers in Finland

As digital technologies continue to transform health care and health systems, they will continue to have a lasting impact on health services. Many health and social care services have rapidly become ‘digital by default’. The electronic identification (e-ID) technology is needed for secure authentication to digital services. Recent studies have shown that the ‘digital divide’ is prominent between ethnic minorities and the majority populations and between older and younger adults. Inequalities related to not having an e-ID, which is in many countries required to access digital health services, remain under-researched. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge of the use of digital services among older migrants. This study analyses general socio-demographic as well as migration specific factors that may be associated with not having an e-ID among older migrants. We used the Care, Health and Ageing of Russian-speaking Minority in Finland (CHARM) study, which is a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling Russian-speaking adults aged ≥ 50 years living in Finland (N = 1082, 57% men, mean age 63.2 years, standard deviation 8.4 years, response rate 36%). Our results showed that 21% of older Russian-speakers did not have an e-ID. Our regression analysis showed that older age and poorer economic situation were associated with a lower probability of having an e-ID. In addition, we found an association between not speaking local languages and not having an e-ID. This may relate to private banks regulating the requirements for obtaining the most common e-ID method, online banking ID. We argue that for individuals who are already in vulnerable positions, current e-ID practices might pose yet another obstacle to obtaining the health services they need and are entitled to.Peer reviewe

EXPLORING TENSIONS IN COLLABORATION AMONG PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS ON SHARED IT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This research-in-progress paper examines the dialectical tensions in inter-organisational collaboration on shared information technology (IT) resources in the public sector. Collaborating public sector organisations are encouraged to explore shared IT resources to align and harmonise multiple IT assets, human resources, and processes. However, the bureaucratic nature of public sector organisations can lead to tensions between individual organisational needs, policymakers\u27 objectives, and joint efforts. This paper presents a preliminary exploration of the problem. The study focuses on the context of UK police services collaborating with other police services and emergency services to create and manage large-scale shared IT infrastructures. The research fills a gap in the literature by exploring dialectical tensions in inter-organisational collaboration of public sector organisations seeking to collaborate for policy implementation. The analysis revealed four tensions arising from disagreements on motivations, objectives, norms, and interpretations, which affect different aspects of the enactment process. The paper concludes by presenting governance mechanisms emerging from the cases to manage the dialectical tensions