Taiane Ritta Coelho

eParticipation and the policy cycle: Designing a research agenda

This article aimed to identify implications of eParticipation in the public policy cycle. This reflection was supported by a bibliographic study and analysis of the research conducted on eParticipation over the last 10 years. Based on this analysis, we found that although previous studies indicate the need to investigate the citizenrys potential to contribute to the formulation of public policies, few have included the public policy cycle in the context of eParticipation. It has also not yet been explained how the use of platforms changes or transforms the public policy process. There are few developed theories in the field of eParticipation. Thus, given the lack of depth in the literature on this topic and the possibility for achieving empowerment levels and more inclusive levels of participation, there are gaps to be considered in this context. A research agenda is suggested to address these outstanding questions.

Uncovering Governmental Transparency in Federative States: Diverse Government Spheres, Heterogeneous Outcomes

This study aims to problematize the issue of government transparency in federative states. As the Brazilian case is analyzed, it also approaches the question of territorial heterogeneity and its effects. Methodology consisted of comparative analysis of the transparency indexes among the three different spheres of government: municipalities, states and central government. Observation of 125 public administration websites reveals that the more limited the sphere of government, the lower the level of transparency is. In other words, Brazilian central government is more transparent than the state ones, and these, in turn, are more transparent than the municipal governments. These differences do not corroborate the maxim employed by supporters of the federalism that local governments tend to establish closer relations with citizens. Furthermore, integrated action among all the government spheres may be recommendable to obtain better transparency outcomes.

Get Into the Club: Positioning a Developing Country in the International eGov Research

The aim of this paper is to suggest alternatives for positioning a developing country in the international eGov research. We conducted a literature review, examining both Brazilian and international publications. We analyzed the domain of collaboration in the field through a social network analysis of authors, institutions and countries. Our study identified that the discussions concerning eGov are predominant; there is more intense collaboration in the network of institutions than of authors; the co‐authorship network reflects the existence of a select number of central authors and, not surprisingly, the study of eGov is centralized in the USA and UK. This study complements previous studies and provides further understanding on how authors, institutions and countries cooperate. The findings of the study are not limited to Brazil, other countries that have barriers to internalization of research can benefit from the data.

Positioning Brazil in International eGov Research: A Proposal Based from Literature Review

The aim of this paper is to suggest alternatives for positioning the Brazil in international eGov research. We conducted a review of the literature, examining both Brazilian and international publications. We analyzed the domain of collaboration in the field through a social network analysis of authors, institutions and countries. Our study identified the following results: discussions concerning eGov are predominant, there is more intense collaboration in the network of institutions than of authors, the co-authorship network reflects the existence of a select number of central authors and the study of eGov is centralized in the USA and UK. This study complements previous studies and provides further understanding on how authors, institutions and countries cooperate. The findings of the study are not limited to Brazil, other countries that have barriers to internalization of research can benefit from the data.

The client-consultant relationship in the implementation of ERP in government: exploring the dynamic between power and knowledge

This article investigates the client-consultant relationship in the implementation of ERP using a case study of the human resources model in the government of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The implantation of ERP and the client-consultant relationship have been thoroughly discussed for the private sector, but have yet to be well understood in a government context. To understand this dynamic, the theoretical framework of Pozzebon and Pinsonneault has been used, which suggests that knowledge and power are shared and negotiated during the implementation of configurable technologies such as ERP. The findings show a dynamic of cooperation between client and consultant due to mutual necessity, with diverse mechanisms of knowledge and power that influence the relationship. Between them, mechanisms that may be exclusive to the government scenario: the common language, the involvement of an external agent in the project and the external IT team. The study examines the application of the theoretical framework in a public sector context, providing insight concerning the client-consultant relationship in an arena where public expenditure on consultancy and management tends to increase. Owing to the particular nature of government, the study provides insight that can benefit governments and consultants in the implementation of successful ERP.

Internet and participation: the case of digital participatory budgeting in Belo Horizonte

This research aims at investigating the social representations in public participation decision-making using ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). The Belo Horizonte City Hall used ICT for the first time in 2006, in the Digital Participatory Budget (OP-Digital). It was a choice made by the population of the implementation of public works for the next two years. The OP-Digital was applied again in 2008 and 2011, but with a lower participation than its first edition. We performed this study to understand the use of Internet by citizens in public decision making and to explain the decline of popular participation. The methodological approach is based in social representations theory and in the critical discourse analysis of 101 texts - from the press and from public agencies or government representatives. Our results suggest that current political strategies were not fully exploiting the potential for interaction and collective construction offered by the Internet, trivializing it. This may be one of the reasons of lower participation.

Internet y participación: el caso del presupuesto participativo digital de Belo Horizonte

This research aims at investigating the social representations in public participation decision-making using ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). The Belo Horizonte City Hall used ICT for the first time in 2006, in the Digital Participatory Budget (OP-Digital). It was a choice made by the population of the implementation of public works for the next two years. The OP-Digital was applied again in 2008 and 2011, but with a lower participation than its first edition. We performed this study to understand the use of Internet by citizens in public decision making and to explain the decline of popular participation. The methodological approach is based in social representations theory and in the critical discourse analysis of 101 texts - from the press and from public agencies or government representatives. Our results suggest that current political strategies were not fully exploiting the potential for interaction and collective construction offered by the Internet, trivializing it. This may be one of the reasons of lower participation.