Rony Medaglia

eParticipation research: Moving characterization forward (2006–2011)

Abstract Research on the use of information technology to support democratic decision-making (eParticipation) is experiencing ongoing growth, stimulated by an increasing attention from both practitioner and research communities. This study provides the first longitudinal analysis of the development of the eParticipation field based on a shared framework, capturing the directions that the research field of eParticipation is taking in recent developments. Drawing on a literature search covering the period from April 2006 to March 2011, this study identifies, analyzes, and classifies 122 research articles within the categories of eParticipation actors, activities, contextual factors, effects, evaluation, and methods. Findings show that the field has a high level of dynamism, as foci on eParticipation activities, contextual factors, and effects have shifted in time, sometimes in counterintuitive directions. The study also suggests new analytical categories of research. Drawing on the analysis, inputs for a research agenda are suggested. These include the need to move beyond a technological perspective, encouraging the ongoing shift of research focus from government to citizens and other stakeholders, and the need to make eParticipation research methods more participatory in nature.

Fads and Facts of E-Government: A Review of Impacts of E-government (2003–2009)

This paper analyzes the impacts of e-government as reported in 55 first-hand empirical peer-reviewed journal publications during the period 2003–2009, using a conceptual framework to identify ICT (information and communication technology) impacts on four domains within the public sector: capabilities, interactions, orientations and value distribution. The analysis shows that research findings mostly report positive impacts in all four dimensions. In the empirical research, the majority of impacts from ICT are reported within the domain of capabilities, which is also the domain that features the most balanced mix of positive and negative findings. Findings show that although e-government has elements that make it different from previous use of ICT in public administration, research on e-government is yet to demonstrate a substantial shift in the nature and directions of impacts in comparison to earlier studies.

Social media in public health care: Impact domain propositions

Abstract This paper investigates the impacts of social media use in Danish public health care with respect to capabilities, interactions, orientations, and value distribution. Taking an exploratory approach, the paper draws on an array of quantitative and qualitative data, and puts forward four propositions: social media transform the access to health-related information for patients and general practitioners, the uptake of social media can be a cost driver rather than a cost saver, social media provide empowerment to patients, and the uptake of social media is hindered by legal and privacy concerns.

The Use of Facebook in National Election Campaigns: Politics as Usual?

The uptake of online media in election campaigning is leading to speculations about the transformation of politics and cyber-democracy. Politicians running for seats in Parliament are increasingly using online media to disseminate information to potential voters and building dynamic, online communities. Drawing on an online survey of the Facebook networks of the two top candidates running for seats in the 2007 Danish Parliament election, this study suggests that the online sphere is primarily populated by users who already know the candidates through the traditional channels of party organizations, and that they do not expect to influence the policy of their candidates. Instead, users view Facebook mainly as an information channel and as a means to gain social prestige.

A Tale of Six Countries: eParticipation Research from an Administration and Political Perspective

This paper presents a cross-national analysis of eParticipation research in the administrative and political domain. It covers eParticipation research in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden) focusing on several aspects of eParticipation research, including research questions, methods, disciplinary approaches, units of analysis, research findings. The paper also provides an overview of national research, and outlines overall research findings and future directions in eParticipation research.

Perceptions of information system success in the public sector: Webmasters at the steering wheel?

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between constructs ofinformation system (IS) success in the public sector, as perceived by webmaster intermediaries, andinvestigate how user testing affects these relationships.Design/methodology/approach – Online surveys were conducted, using questionnaires, withwebmasters in Denmark and Norway who participated in the public sector web award contestsorganized by the government (n ¼ 1,237, n ¼ 541; response rate 44 per cent).Findings – It was found that the frequency with which webmasters carry out user testing affectstheir perceptions of IS success, with those who conduct no user testing displaying the weakestassociations among success variables. Findings also suggest that webmasters who do little or no usertesting conveniently assume that citizen users are satisfied, while webmasters who are moreknowledgeable of the user experience have a greater perception of levels of success.Practical implications – The fact that the majority of webmasters do not perform any type of usertesting triggers a reflection on the need for such important intermediaries to enhance their feedbackchannels. User involvement in assessing IS success cannot be overlooked, especially considering thatuser empowerment in the design, implementation, and evaluation of information systems matches awindow of opportunity originating in the ongoing growth of web interactivity.Originality/value – The paper is one of the few that investigates constructs of IS success in thepublicsector,andarguablythefirstonethatfocusesontheimpactsofusertestingontherelationshipsbetween constructs of IS success in a public setting.KeywordsDenmark,Norway,Informationsystems,Websites,Publicsector,Feedback,Intermediaries,DeLone and McLean IS success model, Webmasters, User testingPaper type Research paper

ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP IN RESEARCH ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN GOVERNMENT

As the research body on information technology (IT) in government aims at consolidation, it faces one of the common fundamental challenges of scholarly research: how to fill the theory–practice gap, and to contribute to knowledge and practice through means of partnership with stakeholders, co-creation, and action research. Using Van de Vens framework of ‘engaged scholarship’, this paper reports an analysis of 55 empirical studies on impacts of IT in government published in international journals in the period 2003–2009, assessing the presence of stakeholder involvement in the problem formulations, theory building, research designs, and problem solving of the studies. Findings show that fewer than a quarter of the studies considered are based on some form of engagement with key stakeholders, and that half of these describe or explain public sector IT processes from a detached and external perspective. The paper concludes by providing inputs for a discussion on the role of engaged scholarship in research on IT in the public sector.

Mapping government social media research and moving it forward: A framework and a research agenda

Abstract The growing phenomenon of government social media requires better informed and more complex studies, but all beginning with a clearer understanding of the current research. Drawing on a comprehensive review of government social media literature in the e-government, the Information Systems (IS), and the public administration (PA) research fields, we mapped government social media research into the six focus categories of context, user characteristics, user behavior, platform properties, management, and effects. Findings show that 1) research focuses on government, rather than on users; 2) studies focusing on context, management, and users mostly focus on quantitative aspects; 3) the properties of social media platforms are under-investigated; and 4) research on the relationship between constructs of the government social media phenomenon is under-investigated. Based on our analysis, we propose a framework to frame relationships between the six focus categories. We also identify a four-point research agenda to move government social media research forward, from description to complex impact analysis.

Assessment of Website Quality: Scandinavian Web Awards Right on Track?

This paper maps the criteria used for measuring website quality in a range of Scandinavian web awards. In order to categorize the evaluation criteria we have used the DeLone and McLean Model, and findings show that there is a heterogeneous pattern of methods and criteria used. System quality aspects are mainly assessed by usability criteria, while the rest of the criteria are evenly divided between information quality and service quality. The remaining evaluation criteria mapped, such as innovation and creativity, fall out of the model. Our analysis also reveals that the assessments are rarely grounded on standardized and objective measures, and that the actual user opinions are ignored in the evaluation process.

Frequency and costs of communication with citizens in local government

This paper addresses the frequency and costs of local government citizen communication in five channels (physical meetings, postal mails, phone calls, e-mail and online self service. Considered to be among the advanced countries with regards to supply of e-services, our analysis shows a surprisingly low use of transactions in the Danish local government. Also, our estimate is that email costs are higher than phone call costs and that there is substantial room for advancing our knowledge of the costs of e-services.