Abstract
In the last two decades, there has been a shift in the fundamental paradigm of Public Administration, from New Public Management, characterized by a managerial, microeconomic and sectorial approach, to Multilevel Public Governance, characterized by an integrated, strategic and holistic approach. The current Multilevel Public Governance paradigm is particularly useful to study and to approach to the Italian local government sector, due to its extreme fragmentation that needs cooperation to overcome its limits. It is in this theoretical framework that we present the ELISA program and its efforts in modernizing the local administration with ICT… from below.ELISA program (Enti Locali – Innovazione di SistemA, Local Government – System Innovation) is a national government project for the innovation in the Public Administration, guided by the Department for Regional and Local Affairs. The project promotes innovative instruments to develop software and technological public platform in three different main fields: taxation and cadastre; info-mobility; quality of services. The ultimate goal is to increase the efficiency of the administrative structure and provide better and technologically advanced solutions to respond to the needs of the citizens.Considering the success of the ELISA program, the Department for Regional and Local Affairs, in cooperation with Politecnico di Milano and Invitalia s.p.a., activates the eGovernment Laboratory with the aim in guaranteeing the replicability and the uniform dissemination of the best solutions all along the country. One of its action lines is to develop and implement the Innovation Communities raised in connection with the best practises of the ELISA program. For this purpose, it encourages sustainable and innovative management models, which are able to spread significant benefits by passing on administrative skills and knowledge to other Public Administrations and, furthermore, promoting the implementation mechanism and the deployment of the experiences.For that to happen, system-oriented measures are needed in order to redefine the relationship between the Local Authorities and the Central Administration: the first ones have the task to identifying both problems and needs of their territories and design proper solutions accordingly; the second one has to guarantee constant and consistent funds, coordinate the actions and oversee the whole process. One example of system-oriented measure is ItaliAE project, a complex and technological program, financed by European structural funds and born to follow the implementation of the local authority reform provided for by the law n. 56/2014 and to support the transformation of the Italian administrative geography and to improving its efficiency.
Highlights
In the last two decades, there has been a shift in the fundamental paradigm of Public Administration, from New Public Management, characterized by a managerial, microeconomic and sectorial approach, to Multilevel Public Governance, characterized by an integrated, strategic and holistic approach
For a better understanding of the importance of the ELISA program in the field of the developing of Italian Public Administration, it is crucial to be aware of the evolution of the fundamental paradigm of the modernization, in general terms, of all administrative systems in the world (Osborne & Gaebler, 1992; OECD, 2005)
In September 2016, within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Italian Government has set up a Team for the Digital Innovation, Team hereafter, in order to make technological services more available and efficient to citizens and businesses, to boost innovative digital products and support Public Administrations, at any level, when taking any kind of decisions by using big data and machine learning
Summary
The role of technology in the Public Administration is the main topic in the innovation process debate the Public Sector has been undergoing. Doing so we will just put a barrier between two different worlds, like people speaking different languages and unable to communicate, the computer technicians on one side and the rest of the Public Administration on the other side In this context, it would be hard to strengthen a good job able to produce more and better services for the citizens and transferring and sharing information, experience and competences among different Public Administration sectors will be precluded. It would be hard to strengthen a good job able to produce more and better services for the citizens and transferring and sharing information, experience and competences among different Public Administration sectors will be precluded It is not relevant for a single Public Administration evaluate the permeability level among the public employees, the knowhow, or even estimate the competences of each employee, but it is important to focus on the level of diffusion of technology in the Public Administration, passing on and transferring the competences, especially the digital ones, which are the hardest to take root. Politicians and Public Administration should wonder what they are doing to avoid this situation facing it with new eyes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
