Digital Transformations of Government

This course is not about digital technologies per se, but about how and why digital technologies interact and impact public sector organizations – their values, routines, task allocations, decision-making and management processes, coordination practices, accountability mechanisms, structures, and relationships as well as task-allocations with citizens and private sector (from co-production to outsourcing, public-private partnerships and networks). The course builds on the assumption that digital transformations play an increasingly fundamental role in modern public administrations, however, this influence is a complex process, inherently co-evolutionary and far from being linear. Therefore, understanding these processes makes it not only possible to explain how and why some public sector organizations forge ahead in technological developments and others do not, but also to envision what “good” public administration should and could be in the digital age. These topics will be covered based on theoretical literature, comparative case-studies, and throuh practical examples and exercises.

After successfully passing the subject the student should be able:
- Is able to discuss and differentiate between different ways how digital technologies shape public sector organizations and their administrative capacities;
- Understand various theoretical strands that debate on the role of technologies and digitization on the evolution of public sector organizations, public policy-making and service delivery;
- Knows the main challenges and best practices regarding the effective management of digital transformations in public sector.