Open Government Research Articles

Towards Sustainable Local Development: Comparative Analysis of Periodic Plans in Nepalese Municipalities

The Local Government Operation Act of 2017 mandates that rural municipalities and municipalities in Nepal develop periodic, annual, and strategic medium- and long-term plans for local-level development. Guided by directives from the National Planning Commission, these plans outline visions, goals, and strategies across social, economic, and physical domains, crucial for sustainable development amidst political stability. These plans integrate governance, environmental considerations, and social inclusion by emphasizing alignment with sustainable development goals and national policies. As primary governance agents, local governments are tasked with formulating these plans to enhance prosperity and socio-economic development within constitutional frameworks. This study examines the objectives, formulation processes, and comparative analysis of periodic plans across Jiri Municipality, Mahankal Rural Municipality, Gauri Shankar Rural Municipality, and Mahalaxmi Municipality in Nepal. It compares their long-term visions, SWOT analyses, sector-wise budgetary allocations, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The findings highlight distinct priorities and challenges each municipality faces, offering insights into tailored strategies for balanced and sustainable development.

Design and validation of an instrument to measure e-governance through factor analysis

E-governance combines the use of electronic means in interaction between government and citizens, government and business, and within government operations to enhance democratic, governmental, and business aspects of governance. Thus, e-governance is built on a paradigmatic dimension such as e-democracy (relationship between government and citizens) and an operational dimension such as e-governance. The objective was to design and validate an instrument to measure e-governance based on three factors: a) e-administration, b) e-services, and c) e-democracy; Methods: Based on the level of importance given to each factor (sample of 2042 Latin American citizens), as well as the relationships between them, an analysis of the importance of each factor is carried out; Results: After the confirmatory analysis, the definitive instrument with which e-governance can be measured by other researchers and future research is obtained, considering the three selection factors, namely: e-administration, e-services and e-democracy; Conclusions: This research contributes to political science through the design and validation of an instrument consisting of 39 items that can be used to measure e-governance according to the dimensions proposed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

THE FUTURE OF OPEN GOVERNMENT

The article examines the potential and obstacles of adopting open government principles in Vietnam. Utilizing a thorough document analysis of governmental reports, policy directives, and academic documents, the study highlights significant progress through legislative reforms and digital technology adoption in Vietnam. This country is undergoing a shift towards transparent governance, motivated by its strong economic growth and political development. Notwithstanding these progressions, Vietnam encounters various obstacles. These factors encompass discrepancies in technology infrastructure, cultural and institutional opposition, concerns around privacy andsecurity, and limitations in available resources. Furthermore, the challenge of aligning new policies with current legislation and ensuring efficient implementation presents additional complexities. The study suggests that enhancing legal and regulatory frameworks, digital infrastructure, fostering a culture of transparency in public agencies, building inclusive participation methods, and prioritizing anti-corruption measures will help Vietnam overcome obstacles in developing an open government.

Addressing the Era of Open Data and Policy Solutions in Indonesia

Openness of Government Data is considered important and is an innovation that influences from the community to prevent corruption by increasing transparency of information and data. This has been done by almost most of the Ministries / Government Agencies in Indonesia in all aspects that include data disclosure in the social, economic, cultural, political and security fields. One of the drivers of the emergence of Open Government Data (OGD) is the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 which has affected all aspects of life with all technological advances so that people tend to require information disclosure in supporting and overseeing the running of the government. Conversely, the lack of utilisation of OGD is something that the Government really needs to pay attention to. Here the author discusses the openness of government data in Indonesia, with several literature review studies and reviews of several journals and interviews with several experts who are expected to provide recommendations related to the importance of data disclosure using several measurement parameters so that the gap between the framework and the OGD concept itself in Indonesia can be considered. In addition, the final goal of this study aims to provide foresight for policies that can be taken by the Government aimed at data transparency that can be used optimally by the general public and does not conflict with policies that have been implemented on data disclosure information.

Stakeholders Mapping in The Implementation of Anti-Bullying Policies in the School Environment Lubuklinggau City

The research aims to find the actors who play a role, their perceptions, and how patterns of interdependence work together in implementing anti-bullying policies in the school environment. The research framework adopted the concept of network governance related to actors, perceptions, and patterns of independence and roles in policy implementation. The research was conducted for six months using qualitative methods with 19 informants from regional apparatus organizations, task forces and public and private schools, parents and related organizations. Data were collected through FGDs, interviews, documentation and observation. Triangulation of sources and actors was conducted for data validity and reliability. Data analysis was conducted interactively through data display, reduction, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that the actors involved in reducing the stunting rate in Kaur Regency were identified as 19 actors from the government, semi-government, private sector, and social community The perception of actors related to the field of anti-bullying in the school environment generally regarding the context and content of anti-bullying policies in the school environment found a gap in the form of the reluctance / attitude of victims of bullying to report cases of bullying that occurred. The research recommends strengthening the participation model, increasing campaigns, building an information technology-based complaint system and open government data.

Public trust and state management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic generated an unprecedented global crisis with long-lasting consequences. In this study, I examine the bi-directional nexus between public trust and the management of the pandemic in Nigeria. I argue that there is a relationship between government management of public policies and the level of public trust. The research draws on the Theory of Trust, in-depth interviews (IDI), and focus group discussions (FGD) and is supported by other secondary sources. I found that the main reason for citizens’ resistance to major policies introduced to contain the spread of the pandemic was due to an entrenched lack of trust in the government, its agencies, and officials. The findings also indicate that a lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the pandemic deepened the already fractured public trust. This was particularly visible in the shrouded pattern of disbursing cash transfers, allegations of corruption against the managers of the pandemic, and evidence of concealed palliatives meant to cushion the negative economic effects of the pandemic. The article recommends that the government needs to promote public trust by adopting an open governance approach that institutionalises transparency and accountability, fosters constant and consistent citizen engagement on government policies and programmes, strengthens critical agencies, and engenders a sense of belonging for all citizens.

User-centred exploration of m-governance adoption: identifying and analysing determinants

PurposeThis study tries to examine the factors that influence the adoption of e-governance mobile applications among Indian citizens. In addition, this study aims to analyse the impact of these factors on the adoption process.Design/methodology/approachThe study used convenience sampling procedure to collect the data from 431 citizens of India. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling techniques were used to assess the validity of scale and test the hypotheses.FindingsThe finding reveals that the information quality (IQ), perceived usefulness, social influence and government appeal (GA) significantly and positively impacted the attitude of citizen towards the m-governance. In addition, perceived ease of use was not significantly and positively impacted the citizen towards the m-governance.Practical implicationsThis study aims to contribute to the existing literature on m-governance adoption in the developing nation. The study intends to provide insightful information on the factors influencing the adoption of m-governance. Also, this study seeks to make a scholarly contribution and provide practical insights for professionals in the industry and government departments.Originality/valueMobile applications transform the government operations and enhance the efficiency of government service delivery. Although there are numerous benefits of m-government application, but still the adoption rate of m-governance is steady. The study uses technology acceptance model along with incorporated two additional constructs, i.e. IQ and GA, to make model more comprehensive and robust to understand the m-governance adoption intention.

From Barriers to Boosters: Optimizing Open Government Data through Publishing Guidelines and Data Protection Strategies

Open Government Data (OGD) is a global endeavor, a collaborative effort between governments worldwide to share datasets that encapsulate a wide spectrum of government activities, from environmental issues like pollution and climate to social aspects like education and childcare, and urban concerns like traffic and congestion, and healthcare statistics. As governments, being among the largest producers and collectors of data, are making OGD available online in diverse formats, primarily Word, PDF, or Excel, they are contributing significantly to this global initiative. The OGD initiative holds immense potential to revolutionize the way we access and use government data. Its primary objective is to enhance the discoverability, accessibility, and availability of data in alternative and preferably machine-readable formats. This, in turn, empowers a diverse set of stakeholders to develop innovative data applications under licensing schemes that permit unrestricted reuse. Despite these promising aspects, challenges such as data heterogeneity, data protection, data quality, and data provenance issues persist. This study aims to analyze and categorize these challenges and obstacles that hinder the OGD initiative from realizing its full potential, with a particular emphasis on data protection and security concerns for data providers.

Analysis of research on the implementation of Blockchain technologies in regional electoral processes

Implementation of Blockchain technologies in online voting system is becoming increasingly popular in modern society and has significantly efficiency in governance. This article explores how Blockchain technologies can boost government operations, making them more transparent and effective. It focuses on an in-depth analysis of current research and methods on Blockchain-based electronic voting systems. The aim of this study is investigated and analysis the potential contributions of Blockchain technology to e-voting by drawing insights from global best practices. According to literature review and case studies of Blockchain implementation in government are conducted to identify existing systems and methods of e-voting, identifying their strengths and weaknesses by analyzing European countries and preparing the ground for future alternatives. Additionally, it examined the role of public education in fostering trust and understanding of Blockchain technology and analyzed the legislative landscape in neighboring jurisdictions to solidify Blockchain’s role in decision-making processes. The results of the study provide a comprehensive perspective, and the findings emphasize the relevance of the study, its contribution to understanding the problems and prospects of introducing Blockchain into electoral processes at the regional level.

Understanding the factors associated with nurse employment in clinics: Experiences in Taiwan.

The shortage and distribution of nurses affect healthcare access in aging societies. Limited research has explored the nursing workforce in clinics, which is vital for healthcare delivery. This study aimed to investigate the shortage and distribution of nurses in clinics in Taiwan, considering geographical, institutional, and specialty variations. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the national nursing workforce in Western medicine clinics in Taiwan using open government data. The nursing practice rate (NPR) was calculated. The ratio of clinics employing nurses (RCN) was determined by calculating the percentage of clinics with nurses in each category. A logistic regression model was fitted to examine the factors associated with nurse employment, including urbanization level and different specialty clinics. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated. The study revealed an overall NPR as low as 59.1%, and a decreasing trend with age. Among the 11 706 clinics in the study, nearly a quarter did not employ nurses, with an overall RCN of 72.3%. Urbanization level and clinic specialty were associated with nurse employment ( p < 0.05). After adjusting for urbanization level, the fitted regression model identified the top three specialties as plastic surgery (OR = 11.37, RCN = 96.8%), internal medicine (OR = 1.94, RCN = 84.1%), and orthopedics (OR = 1.89, RCN = 83.6%), while the bottom three were otolaryngology (OR = 0.59, RCN = 61.5%), psychiatry (OR = 0.49, RCN = 57.1%), and rehabilitation medicine (OR = 0.30, RCN = 45.2%). Nurses were more likely to be employed in areas at urbanization level 1 (OR = 1.17), 3 (OR = 1.37), and 6 (OR = 1.48), which represent highly urbanized areas within the urban, suburban, and rural categories, respectively, than in urbanization level 4. Clinics in Taiwan showed nursing shortages and maldistribution, with 72.3% RCN and variations based on urbanization and specialty. These factors may be considered in nursing research conducted in other countries to inform future workforce planning.

The Effectiveness And Challenges Of E-Government Implementation Through The Media Center In The City Of Palangka Raya

Public administration is crucial for government operations and public welfare as mandated by the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia. Technology, especially E-Government, has made public services more efficient. Since Presidential Instruction No. 3 of 2003, various government agencies, including local governments, have adopted E-Government to improve services. However, challenges such as isolated information systems, security issues, data inconsistency, and inadequate infrastructure require standardization. The Palangka Raya City Government utilizes information technology through the Media Center, supported by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, to enhance information dissemination and networking between local, provincial, and central governments. This study analyzes the effectiveness of the Media Center in Palangka Raya, identifying challenges such as a lack of competent human resources, outdated facilities, limited internet access in remote areas, and insufficient administrative budgets. Data were collected through documentation, observation, and interviews, and analyzed qualitatively. The findings highlight major challenges and suggest improvements for electronic public services, ultimately contributing to increased community engagement and welfare.

Political determinants of government transparency: Evidence from open government data initiatives

AbstractThe increasing availability of extensive governmental data, technological advancements, and a rising standard for government openness are encouraging global governments to implement open data initiatives. While some governments are actively adapting to these trends, others remain behind, despite the pressure. This research explores the political and administrative reasons behind these differences. By analyzing how local governments in South Korea handled requests for open data from citizens between 2007 and 2016, the study highlights the importance of political competition and administrative strength in fostering government transparency and effectively addressing citizen data requests. The study assesses open government data based on its scope, time, and quality, finding that higher levels of electoral competition and better administrative capabilities contribute to increased transparency and responsiveness. However, the study's use of a regression discontinuity design reveals that the political party controlling local governments had minimal influence on these factors.Related ArticlesHeo, Inhye. 2013. “The Political Economy of Policy Gridlock in South Korea: The Case of the Lee Myung‐bak Government's Green Growth Policy.” Politics &amp; Policy 41(4): 509–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12029.Heo, Inhye. 2022. “Energy Democratization Policy without Democratization of Policy Governance in South Korea: A Participatory Democracy Perspective.” Politics &amp; Policy 50(4): 834–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12480.Nam, Aerang, and Christopher M. Weible. 2023. “Examining Experts' Discourse in South Korea's Nuclear Power Policy Making: An Advocacy Coalition Framework Approach to Policy Knowledge.” Politics &amp; Policy 51(2): 201–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12522.

Water Body Detection Using Sen2Cube.at and Comparison to Open Government Data - Assessing for Floating Photovoltaics

Water Body Detection Using Sen2Cube.at and Comparison to Open Government Data - Assessing for Floating Photovoltaics

Analysis of the functions of open government and its relationship with management in local municipalities in Peru

Analysis of the functions of open government and its relationship with management in local municipalities in Peru

Academic Perspectives on Open Government Data: A Study of Quality, Trust and Intention to Use

Academic Perspectives on Open Government Data: A Study of Quality, Trust and Intention to Use

Synchronization and Standardization of Open Data Platforms: A Systematic Literature Review

This study is a systematic review that intends to improve our knowledge of the ideas of open data synchronization and standardization by reviewing the methodology and instruments utilized in previous studies through a careful examination of accessible literature. The methodology of this study was developed in several key phases. Firstly, a search was conducted in electronic databases to identify relevant studies in the field for Open Government Data (OGD). After identifying the studies, they were carefully reviewed through an initial abstract-based screening process. In the next phase, the research design and sample used in each identified study were analyzed to assess their quality and reliability. Subsequently, data from the studies were analyzed and categorized into various categories, including the usability of open data, synchronization, scalability, and reliability. The gained results highlight the importance of open data in our information-driven society. Open data positively impact transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and free access to information. To achieve these benefits, it is crucial to standardize and license open data, giving priority to their usability. The study underscores the importance of open data for transparency, innovation, and citizen engagement. Despite the disadvantages, this technology has the potential to change how governments and society use data.

How do institutional dimensions of open government data affect innovation? Evidence from research institutes in China

PurposeThis study investigates the individual and binary (i.e. combined) effects of institutional dimensions of open government data (which include instructional, structural and accessible rules) on scientific research innovation, as well as the mediating roles that researchers' perceived data usefulness and data capability play in between.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 1,092 respondents, this study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and polynomial regression with response surface analysis to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of individual and binary institutional dimensions on scientific research innovation.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that instructional, structural and restricted access data have a positive effect on scientific research innovation in the individual effect. While the binary effect of institutional dimensions produces varying degrees of scientific research innovation. Furthermore, this study discovers that the perceived usefulness and data capability of researchers differ in the mediating effect of institutional dimensions on scientific research innovation.Originality/valueTheoretically, this study contributes new knowledge on the causal links between data publication institutions and innovation. Practically, the research findings offer government data managers timely suggestions on how to build up institutions to foster greater data usage.

Open government data and the cost of debt

Open government data refers to a government's policy of disclosing available data to society. Using China's policy of disclosing open government data, which has been progressively implemented, this paper investigates whether open government data affect the cost of debt for firms. We find that open government data can alleviate information asymmetry between creditors and firms, in turn significantly reducing the cost of debt for firms. This effect is pronounced in high-risk firms that creditors perceive to be engaging in opportunistic behavior, small firms, and regions with underdeveloped fintech or where the legal environment is not sufficiently protective of creditors. Furthermore, we find that the maturity of open government data contributes to its reducing effect on the cost of debt for firms. Finally, our results reveal that open government data facilitate firms' borrowing of both long-term loans and loans without third-party guarantees. Our study thus demonstrates the value of open government data for creditors.

Education Sector Open Government: A Bibliometric Analysis

The aim of this research is to analyze open government bibliometrics in the education sector. Education is one of the most popular fields in open government. This research uses a qualitative approach with bibliometric analysis methods. The data used is secondary, obtained from the Scopus database. Data was collected using Publish or Perish with the keyword education sector open government. The data obtained was then selected using OpenRefine and analyzed using VOSviewer to obtain a bibliometric map generated from keywords throughout the paper. Based on the results of this research, there have been 160 papers in the last 51 years. The first open government paper on the education sector was published in 1972. There are 17634 citations, 75 h-index, and 126 g-index, which shows this paper has high impact and productivity. In this paper, there are 153 keywords grouped into 13 clusters. From these keywords, 1878 total link strengths and 663 occurrences were obtained. The keywords that dominate this paper are open policy making, social auditing, open contracting, and open budgeting. This shows that open government studies in the education sector focus on these issues.

Geophysical survey and radiometric assessment of aquifer strata and vulnerable groundwater quality of Ukwuani Ommunities in Delta State

The study assessed the aquifer strata and groundwater quality of Obeti, Umuaja, and Ebedei communities of Ukwuani, Delta State, Nigeria using electrical resistivity technique and sodium iodide [Na(TI)] detector. The electrical resistivity technique revealed that lithology has five to six geoelectric strata, which ranged from topsoil to clay formations with thickness of 0.6 to 6.0 m sits and aquifer resistivity range of 182.1– 6032.0 Ωm with depth of 29–70 m. These ranges indicate significant changes in the aquifer level and sufficient reservoirs for groundwater. To assess the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K at the aquifer depth of 29–70 m groundwater, a total of fifteen groundwater samples were collect for analysis and the mean results are 9.00±1.24Bql−1, 4.82±2.95Bql−1 and 57.93±4.20Bql−1 respectively. These results are all above world threshold limits. However, the computed mean radiological health risk values for radium equivalent (Raeq), representative index (Iy), external hazard index (Hin), internal hazard index (Hex), absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), outdoor and indoor, and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) outdoor and indoor are 20.35±5.78 Bql−1, 0.15mSvy−1, 0.056mSvy−1, 0.08mSvy−1, 9.55μGyh−1, 11.71mSvy−1, 46.84mSvy−1and 0.04×10−3, 0.16×10−3 and 0.20×10−3 for the addition of (ELCR) outdoor and indoor respectively. The computed mean radiological values are below world threshold limits. Hence, the studied communities’ drinking groundwater is safe radiologically. It is advised that government, oil and gas operators and individuals should drill above 30 m depth for quality groundwater and should be treated before usage. These values will serve as baseline data.