Information systems and intergovernmental relations in Brazilian social policies: a study on users’ adaptations to the local context

Manuella Maia Ribeiro,Lya Cynthia Porto de Oliveira,Eduardo H. Diniz,Sarah Martins Faleiros

doi:10.1016/j.rauspm.2017.12.006

Manuella Maia Ribeiro, Lya Cynthia Porto de Oliveira + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rauspm.2017.12.006

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Abstract

The goal of the paper is to identify barriers to the adoption of information systems in Brazilian federal government social policies at the local level. The study focuses on users of information systems from other intergovernmental organizations that helped the federal government in the implementation of social public policies, especially at the local level. The federal government has been using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve federal coordination of various social programs. This means that technology has been another component in the implementation of these policies. This paper adopts the assumption that users of information systems can change the context of technology use, not only the technology or information system itself. These changes, which were not foreseen by the system designers or policymakers, may explain the success or failure of the adoption of these systems in social policies coordinated by the Brazilian federal government. Case studies of two social programs in different areas (education and social assistance) were carried out in two Brazilian states (Pará and São Paulo). The focus of the article was to identify how users of information systems alter the context of information systems use. The findings helped to identify two dimensions that can cause difficulties or changes in the use of intergovernmental information systems at the local level: the technical and administrative capabilities of local governments and the rigidity of information systems and sharing of data and information to subnational participants of federal government social policies.

Highlights

The topic of intergovernmental relations has been widely discussed in Brazilian literature, especially in the context of the decentralization of public policies in the country
In order to identify the barriers to the use of information systems in social policies that require cooperation between government agencies of different levels, this article’s methodology was composed through the theoretical reference, covering the concepts and references around the following themes: intergovernmental relations, federal coordination, relationships between information systems designers and users, interorganizational information systems, and the multilevel framework
Other schools are not obliged to use the system but may adopt it as an instrument for planning their activities. The design of these policies counts on both state and local governments for their implementation, this study focuses on the analysis of end users and local governments

Summary

Introduction

The topic of intergovernmental relations has been widely discussed in Brazilian literature, especially in the context of the decentralization of public policies in the country This movement gains special attention from the changes that occurred at the end of the dictatorship, such as: (i) the promulgation of the 1988 Federal Constitution, which considerably increased the duties and powers of states and municipalities; and (ii) the state reform movements in the country, which, among other goals, aimed to improve public management by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of actions carried out by public organizations (Abrucio, 2005; Arretche, 1996; Diniz, Faleiros, Porto, & Ribeiro, 2013; Farah, 2001). Municipalities are responsible for entering information on citizens who benefit from these programs, while the federal government makes financial resources available and manages such information systems

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