Abstract
The power of data to support digital transformation within the context of e-Government is frequently underestimated. In this exploratory research, we develop a conceptual framework where the value of data stems from how it is used. We claim that the impact of digital transformation in the public sector presupposes an organisational culture that recognises and values data-in-use, by which is meant the practical application of data for a specific purpose, particularly by staff who deliver services. Through the lens of two ‘worldviews’ of data sharing, we present case studies of data use in two local authorities in Scotland. We claim that developing a culture where data is leveraged to derive insights for organisational activity requires combining working practices and technical infrastructure that centre on co-creating value with data. The presence of data intermediaries can support effective data-in-use to establish a healthy internal data ecosystem. Our research illustrates that local authorities within Scotland are still at an early stage of developing this culture.
Highlights
The way in which public sector data is managed and valued as a resource is a crucial component in how e-Government gives rise to digital transformation
Emphasis on ‘data use’ leads us to ask: what data use practices best support efforts towards public sector digital transformation? We focus on addressing this question in the context of local government
Our approach is exploratory, investigating the extent to which analytic tools drawn from the literature on data ecosystems and data sharing increase understanding of how data can be made actionable within a public sector setting
Summary
The way in which public sector data is managed and valued as a resource is a crucial component in how e-Government gives rise to digital transformation. The term data can be interpreted in a variety of ways We take it to mean digitally stored information which is structured (e.g., not textual data) and machine-readable (i.e., in a form that can be readily processed by a computer). In many cases this is tabular data of the kind that is familiar from spreadsheets but can for example, comprise spatial data of the kind that underlies digital maps. We focus on addressing this question in the context of local government This is appropriate given the vast amount of data gathered at this level of public administration, and the fact that beyond legislation on statistical reporting and data protection, there is little to guide organisations in how such data is used to create value. The way that data is used is closely tied to its value and to its ‘quality’ in a normative sense (i.e., its worth), in the context of local government staff delivering public services
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