Transformation Of Governance Research Articles

TRADITIONAL GOVERNANCE IN THE COPRODUCTION OF URBAN RESILIENCE: Institutional Enablers and Political Constraints

AbstractBuilding urban resilience in vulnerable global South settlements is a pressing twenty‐first century challenge. Building urban resilience involves addressing institutional deficiencies to mobilize resources for the delivery of urban services and infrastructures. State–civil society partnerships are effective in low‐capacity settings as a step forward in the consolidation of the state, and as an opportunity for the emancipation of vulnerable communities. Coproducing urban resilience requires recognizing marginalized communities (e.g. indigenous groups), their capacity for local problem solving and governance structures for community engagement. In this article, we explore a coalition of five periurban neighborhoods in Oaxaca City (Mexico), which collaborate with the state to address flooding and drought using traditional governance. We argue that, although the recognition and mobilization of traditional governance has enabled the coproduction of public services (adaptation), it has been limited in delivering radical governance transformations. Traditional governance may prevent neighborhood leaders from reaching government positions to secure further resources required for the construction of urban resilience. The article contributes to debates on coproduction, explaining how traditional governance enables the coproduction of infrastructures and service delivery, but is limited in forwarding deep societal transformations necessary for resilience building in vulnerable contexts of the global South.

Digital Transformation in Local Government: Enhancing Financial Transparency through the Regional Financial Information System (SIKD)

This study aims to analyze the implementation of the Regional Financial Information System (Sistem Informasi Keuangan Daerah, SIKD) in enhancing financial transparency in local governments during the digital era. Additionally, it explores the impact of digital advancements on accountability and financial reporting, including their effects on efficiency and report quality. The study also identifies various challenges faced by local governments in achieving financial transparency and provides strategic recommendations to address these obstacles. The research employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method. Data were collected from scientific journals, research reports, and relevant articles discussing the role of information technology in enhancing transparency, the challenges of its implementation, and strategies for optimization. The data were categorized into three main themes: the contribution of information technology to transparency, barriers to its adoption, and strategic steps for optimization. The findings indicate that the implementation of SIKD, as mandated by Government Regulation No. 56 of 2005, significantly supports transparency and accountability in local financial management by facilitating structured and systematic documentation, management, and reporting of financial data. Digital transformation positively impacts efficiency, accuracy, and the openness of local financial information. However, several challenges persist, such as resistance to transparency, a lack of technological expertise, and limited infrastructure. To overcome these obstacles, collaboration between governments and communities, improving human resource competencies, and developing technological infrastructure are strategic steps to ensure better transparency.

Decentralisation as Resistance: Web3’s Potential in Countering Digital Censorship and Redefining Cyber Sovereignty

The Internet, initially celebrated as a bastion of freedom and openness, is increasingly becoming a domain of control, surveillance, and regulation by both states and private entities. The rise of state control and regulation of the Internet, along with the private sector’s expanding control over information, poses significant challenges to the ideals of freedom and openness that once defined the Internet. This article examines the transformation in Internet governance from a state of minimal regulation to a heavily controlled environment by both governments and corporations and explores how the blockchain technology and decentralised architecture underlying Web3 promise to redefine Internet governance and resist censorship. Through a mixed-method approach that synthesises insights from computer science, political science, and legal studies, the paper argues that public blockchains challenge Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) traditional control over DNS and significantly reduce the ability of centralised entities to exert control over content and communication, thereby enhancing freedom of expression and resisting censorship. The ability of Web3 to fully realise this potential is, however, dependent on overcoming complex technical and regulatory challenges.

Localizing the digital: implementation frictions and digital governance in inland China

ABSTRACT This article examines the localization of digital governance technologies in inland China, with a focus on Guizhou Province, which houses China’s first big data pilot zone. Despite the centralization efforts of the Xi Jinping administration, local agents are pivotal in policy implementation, particularly in regions far from political and economic hubs. Combining studies of policy implementation and concerns about the materiality of information technology, this research problematizes the localization process of digital governance. It introduces the analytical framework termed the “frame of locality” to emphasize the dynamic interplay between national digital governance policies and local socio-economic and cultural contexts, indicating that the resolution of implementation frictions in various ways is crucial for policy execution. With the case of Guizhou, the research uncovers an inherent contradiction: the local transformation of digital governance can be hindered by its own implementation processes, thus challenging the notion of re-centralizing social governance through digital technologies. This can both challenge centrally-designed sociotechnical visions and provide opportunities for more inclusive local resource allocation and for policymakers to reassess and adjust to local conditions. The study contributes to the broader understanding of China’s digitization efforts by highlighting the significance of local contingent dynamics in accomplishing centrally planned objectives.

Sustainability of Digital Initiatives in Public Services in Digital Transformation of Local Government: Insights and Implications

This study examines municipalities’ challenges in digital transformation, focusing on an Icelandic municipality. It aims to determine whether these challenges align with those reported in academic literature, particularly in public service delivery and the sustainability of digital initiatives from an operational perspective. A mixed-methods approach, including interviews with municipal employees and a survey, was used to analyze the municipality’s experiences. An evaluation framework introduced by Lafioune et al. guided the analysis. Key findings highlight the importance of senior management support, adequate funding, staff collaboration, and effective data management for making successful and digital transformation sustainable in the long run. Resistance to change, especially among staff, emerged as a significant obstacle to long-term sustainability. The study reveals that the challenges Icelandic municipalities face are consistent with broader research on digital transformation in public administration. The research emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach integrating technological, organizational, and cultural changes to ensure a sustainable result from these initiatives. It also underscores the potential of digitalization to enhance public service accessibility and efficiency, promoting social cohesion, equity, and long-term sustainability. Practical recommendations include fostering strong leadership, securing strategic funding, and promoting a collaborative culture to ensure the success of digital initiatives in public services.

From Traditional to Digital: Transforming Local Administrative Organization Workflows in Thailand Through Social Listening Tools

Digital transformation offers transformative potential for public service delivery, yet many local administrative organizations (LAOs) in Thailand struggle with integrating digital tools effectively into their workflows. This study investigates the integration of social listening tools (SLTs) to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of public service delivery in Thailand’s LAOs. The primary goal is to redesign traditional, manual workflows through the development of a digital-by-design framework, addressing inefficiencies in public engagement and service provision. Employing a mixed-method approach, this research combines interviews and focus groups with municipal staff from four municipalities in Northeast Thailand to identify challenges and co-create solutions. The redesigned workflow integrates digital practices into existing organizational structures and achieves a significant 282% improvement in efficiency, measured in transactions per manpower-hour. Additionally, the new process enhances operational speed, responsiveness, and public engagement. To ensure sustainability, this study recommends a phased implementation strategy and consistent staff training. This research contributes to the public administration literature by providing a practical, scalable framework for digital transformation in local governance. It underscores the potential of SLTs to modernize public sector workflows, enabling more dynamic, responsive, and citizen-centric interactions between LAOs and the communities they serve.

Urban political ecologies of sewage surveillance: Creating vital and valuable public health data from wastewater

AbstractWith the outbreak of COVID‐19, wastewater surveillance for public health rapidly emerged and expanded globally. In this article we chart the variegated ecosystem of private firms that work closely with public and non‐profit entities to transform metabolic flows of sewage into vital and valuable bioinformation, thereby creating new multi‐institutional spaces of public health governance. We draw on literature in urban political ecology and political economy to ask: what are the emerging political economic actors, practices, and relations of wastewater surveillance? And how are emergent multi‐institutional public‐private partnerships and contracts transforming public health governance? To answer these questions, we use mixed qualitative methods to trace the field across North America, the Middle East and South Asia. Drawing on interviews, document and report reviews, financial reporting and observation at conferences, we find that these emerging public‐private partnerships present concerning transformations in health governance where profits displace public health needs, proprietary technologies blackbox public health decisions, and vulnerable populations are experimented on for prototyping technology. Our work contributes to renewed interest in urban political ecology's analysis of metabolism by tracing how, during health crises and their aftermath, public and private actors are together reconfiguring flows of waste, labour and technology to unlock new metabolic reservoirs of bioinformation.

‘Drawing the Line’: Market Rule and Liberal Planning in the Governance of Capitalism

This article critically engages with the ‘death of neoliberalism’ debate. Its purpose is not to determine whether neoliberalism is dying or not but to highlight the limitations of the question, ‘is neoliberalism dead?’ The question invites answers that cannot satisfactorily account for both continuities and transformations in capitalist governance. Existing sides of the debate miss the fact that market discipline is a shared commitment of all iterations of liberal governance, not only neoliberalism. Liberal governance, I argue, is a balancing act between market discipline and planning measures to manage the social costs of accumulation. The argument develops in two steps. First, it presents a brief intellectual history of social liberalism – the most explicitly pro-planning voice in the liberal canon – highlighting its similarities with neoliberalism. Second, it theoretically engages with the Open and Political Marxist traditions to discern the drivers behind the state’s concurrent impulse to expand and self-limit the scope of planning.

Journeys of change towards the blue economy: evaluating process in transformational change

AbstractTransformation is idealised as a solution to multiple ocean crises, and the blue economy has emerged as a paradigm to facilitate transformation towards a sustainable ocean future. Conceptualisations of transformation differ and processes of change to achieve transformation remain under-explored in literature, representing a significant gap in understanding how transformation is achieved. By exploring the process of blue economy governance transformations in Seychelles and Bangladesh, key attributes of transformation as a process are identified and contextualised. Connectivity of events and actions that addressed a range of different depths and parts of the governance system were identified as enablers of progress towards the blue economy. Strong, centralised leadership was identified as important at an early stage of change, but this must evolve to a distributed form of leadership to continue direction and flexibility. The role and importance of external agencies in creating and catalysing change is complex, presenting challenges to sovereignty but also acts as an independent driver of movement. From a national government perspective, the need to be ‘constantly seen as doing something’ hinders deeper changes and interventions, and instead promotes more superficial outcomes. These results demonstrate the challenges in creating transformative change, and suggest a need to explore evolutionary processes of change over time.

Digital transformation: an investigative study of the performance of digitalization in governance

Purpose Corruption in Nigeria is a wicked issue that is threatening the performance of governance. However, the potentials of digital transformation in governance have proven to resolve similar issues in many countries. This study seeks to understand the reasons why the digital transformation of governance in Nigeria is not ending corruption and the lack of accountability and transparency but is creating new opportunities of corruption. This is because Nigeria continues to decline in its ranking in the corruption perception index – yearly. The pupose of this study is to identify the various factors responsible for this and proffers adequate solutions. Design/methodology/approach Within this study, the direct observatory methodology was used. This is a form of unstructured observation, whereby the complexity and context of a behavior or interaction are examined. Two government organizations that have integrated digitalization into their processes and services were investigated; these are the Federal High Court and the Nigeria Immigration Service all based in Abuja, Nigeria. Findings The primary factors responsible for the poor performance of the digital transformation of governance within the two organizations studied – include the adoption of a semi-automated system for the digital transformation of public governance, lack of a proper audit system (internal and external), inherent culture of corruption, in-addition to the individual and organization value systems that supports corruption, lack of adequate laws, policies and regulation to prevent, manage and punish corruption and the lack of publicity on the transformation of governance within these organizations, the poor usage of the system and inadequate digital public infrastructure. Research limitations/implications This research focused on investigating two public organizations, while there are several public organizations. The results of this study may or may not apply to other organizations, but it is impossible to know at this time. This is because of the nature of this study. This represents a limitation of this research. It is possible that few public organizations within the public sector are getting the benefits of digitalization and lessons can be derived from them to improve those that are not. On the other hand, the results obtained in this study may not apply to the private sector. This needs to be examined in future studies. Hence, future studies that should investigate the impact of digital transformation of governance in both the private and public sectors – using a mixed approach are encouraged. Originality/value This study posits itself as one of the earliest studies to deploy the direct observatory methodology in understanding digital transformation of governance in Nigeria. Within this study, clear loopholes were identified with verifiable empirical evidences. Unlike previous studies that reviewed literatures and used surveys, this study used an un-biased and real-life approach to gather evidence. This study bridged the gap between theory and practice of how digital transformation in governance works in Nigeria.

Impact of entrepreneurial orientation and ESG on environmental performance: moderating impact of digital transformation and technological innovation as a mediating construct using Sobel test

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of dimension of dynamic capabilities such as Entrepreneurial orientation (EO), technological innovation (TIN), and digital transformation (DT) and dimension of Stakeholder environment, society, and governance (ESG) practices on environmental performance (EP) in the handicraft industry. This study also investigates the mediating impact of dynamic capabilities such as Technological innovation (TIN) and Entrepreneurial orientation between ESG and EP and has applied the Sobel test. This study also checks the moderating impact of Digital transformation (DT) on EP through TIN. The Sobel test is most suitable for mediation analysis, whether partial or complete mediation. For this study, exploratory research methods , convenience sampling, and tools used a 5-point Likert scale. Therefore, the study was well suited to this type of experimental research, since it used the PLS–SEM path coefficient algorithm and PCA analysis software to examine several correlations simultaneously. A total of 150 respondents participated in this survey who were artisan’s new entrepreneurs and firm owners in the handicraft industry. Because of their outsized influence on emissions worldwide and consumption of resources, businesses worldwide have a responsibility to ensure environmental stability while also working to improve their practices to improve the craft industry as part of the small industry. These findings prove that by adopting ESG principles and Entrepreneurial orientation, the impact of technological innovation supports the environment's performance. The development of eco-friendly goods and procedures, the enhancement of craft productivity, and the evolution of sustainable development strategies are all greatly aided by digital transformation, technological innovation handicraft business environmental sustainability in the face of the escalating difficulties brought on by climate change. For verification and exploration of entrepreneurial orientation, technological innovation, Environmental performance, and environmental social and governance (ESG), this study is supported by the Dynamic capability theory (DCT), stakeholder theory, and especially ESG criteria. The research shows that firms' environmental performance can be significantly improved by emphasizing ESG factors and embracing technological advancements and entrepreneurial orientation.

Digital transformation of local governments in Sudan: A content analysis of e-government adoption

This research paper explores the electronic government adoption and implementation level by local government entities in Sudan. It examines how local governments have embraced and integrated digital technologies, platforms, and services using Layne and Lee four stages model. The study employed a content analysis method to collect data from 18 official websites of Sudanese local government entities. The findings suggest that while local e-government initiatives are still in the informative stages, many governments plan to develop more sophisticated e-government offerings. The key barriers and challenges to adopt and implement e-government identified in the research include technological barriers, lack of resources, digital divide, and legal and regulatory obstacles.

Digitising the Physical: The Evolving Role of Collaboration Tools in Citizen Participatory Design Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Seoul

This case study investigates how the digital transformation of urban design governance following the COVID-19 outbreak has led to changes in approaches to citizen participatory design in Seoul, South Korea. Drawing on empirical data from the Seoul Citizen Design Bureau – an annual participatory program initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government since 2015 – and interviews with facilitators and participants, the study ethnographically examines the emergence of new local design actors amid unforeseen circumstances like the pandemic. The research sheds light on the diverse capacities and intermediary roles of digital collaboration tools such as ZoomTM and MuralTM, which not only enabled citizen involvement in design during the pandemic but also challenged established practices in institution-driven participatory design in Korea. By contextualising this analysis within a turbulent historical juncture, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of remote ethnography in uncovering the influence of “more-than-humans” in participatory design within the unique sociocultural setting of South Korea.

Historicizing Latin American urban politics and governments

ABSTRACT Existing studies about the politics of southern cities, particularly Latin American cities, need to pay more attention to the political institutions behind urban governance. These institutions, additionally, were not created by design but are a product of intertwined historical processes. This article analyzes the main features and transformations of Latin American local governments, their politics, and governance, looked at from the angle of their historical formation. Mobilizing arguments from urban studies and political science usually developed apart, I start with the legacies of two intertwined historical processes—urbanization(s) and state formation(s)—to later observe their recent transformations since the recent return(s) to democracy. The reconstruction of these intertwined historical trajectories and of the effects of the present democratic period help to jointly explain the most important features of the politics of local governments in Latin America that influence their governance and actions—capacities, political grammars, actors, and coalitions—as well as their recent transformations.

Digital Government Transformation and Sustainable Development Goals: To What Extent Are They Interconnected? Bibliometric Analysis Results

The increasing prevalence of digital technologies has sparked interest in the relationship between digital transformation and sustainable development, leading to a surge in theoretical and practical research on this topic. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of publications in the Web of Science database to examine the extent to which sustainable development goals are integrated into digital government transformation discourses. Using statistical properties of the citation network and the main path approach to identify key publication clusters, the analysis reveals limited research explicitly focusing on the link between digital government transformation and sustainable development goals. Furthermore, articles exploring this interconnection are notably scarce in public administration journals, indicating a significant gap in the literature that requires further investigation.

The Public Service Digitalization in the Philippines Towards a National Program to Capacitate Digital Frontliners

The rapid advancement of technology has driven a global transformation in public service delivery. In the Philippines, efforts to digitalize public services are crucial for inclusive development and efficient governance. This study, titled "The Public Service Digitalization in the Philippines Towards a National Program to Capacitate Digital Frontliners," examines this transformation through the experiences of government employees, known as digital frontliners. These individuals are key to implementing and managing digital technologies across public sectors.Using a mixed-method research design, the study integrates descriptive, correlative-comparative, and phenomenological approaches to gather quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 400 digital frontliners participated in a survey, while 10 key informants were interviewed. This approach provides a comprehensive analysis of the digitalization process, focusing on demographic profiles, challenges, job satisfaction, and service effectiveness.The theoretical framework includes the Theory of Digital Government Transformation, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and Capacity Building and Development Theory. These frameworks help understand the dynamics of public service digitalization, technology acceptance, and the importance of capacity building.Key findings reveal a diverse workforce among digital frontliners, significant challenges such as infrastructure limitations and digital literacy disparities, and varying levels of job satisfaction. The research underscores the need for robust digital infrastructure, tailored training programs, and streamlined administrative processes. It also highlights the importance of public-private collaboration.The study proposes a national program to enhance the capabilities of digital frontliners through continuous professional development and innovation support. This program aims to improve digital public services, making them more efficient, transparent, and accessible. The findings provide a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and strategic planning, contributing to the Philippines' digital transformation and inclusive growth.

Implications and Lessons Learnt from Taiwan Marine Biodiversity Governance Transformation

Conserving marine biodiversity is increasingly recognized as a global obligation, yet natural resource-based development has long been central to economic growth. Taiwan, a major marine user and fishing entity, adopted the Marine Conservation Act (MCA) in July 2024 by integrating 90 years of Taiwan’s area-based management tools with new conservation measures. It marks a transformative journey toward marine conservation. This study delves into the factors driving this change and assesses the implications of the MCA on marine protected area (MPA) governance by examining the development and assessment of core legislations for area-based marine resource management, and analyzing the MCA provisions to investigate its impacts. The findings reveal that international events often were key drivers of law-making. Taiwan’s practice represents a pragmatic approach that leverages global conservation events and goals and partially aligns with international MPA frameworks and the other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) discussions to addressing complexities of sustainable use and strengthening marine biodiversity policies. This study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between marine conservation and development, offering valuable insights for policymakers and marine conservation practitioners worldwide.

Digital Leadership: Its Influence on Driving Digital Policy Adoption in the Public Sector

This study examines the pivotal role of digital leadership in driving government transformation. By leveraging advanced data analytics, governments can formulate more predictive policies and anticipate future challenges. Digital services enhance efficiency, accessibility, and transparency, fostering trust in government institutions. However, successful digital transformation hinges on effective leadership. Digital leaders possess the skills to navigate complex digital environments, cultivate digital mindsets, and identify opportunities. This research explores the competencies required for digital leadership, including data analytics, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams. Furthermore, it investigates the impact of digital leadership on policy adoption, service delivery, and organizational culture. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study contributes to the understanding of how digital leadership can accelerate government modernization and improve public service delivery.

Bridging the knowledge-action gap: A framework for co-producing actionable knowledge

Rapidly increasing knowledge on environmental problems and their potential solutions is underused by policy and practice. This mismatch constitutes a knowledge-action gap. To bridge the gap, the concept of actionable knowledge has been proposed, which is often understood as outputs, data, policy briefs, or other types of products. We instead propose to understand actionable knowledge as a process that has (1) cumulative and stepwise, (2) iterative and cyclical, and (3) coevolutionary characteristics. These characteristics are often considered in isolation or even to be in contradiction with each other. We integrate these three characteristics in an analysis of transdisciplinary project developing a catchment-scale land use roadmap and catchment coordination in the Kiiminkijoki river catchment, northern Finland. Our analysis is based on four general phases in a knowledge co-production process (making sense together, knowledge validation, usable outputs, boundary spanning), which are concretized through nine practical steps. We find that collection, analysis, and usage of the knowledge has been even more important for action than the final output (i.e., the roadmap). Furthermore, the process of actionable knowledge does not end with the project but continues with negotiations to establish a catchment coordinator position. Our major finding is that there is no single point in time during a transdisciplinary project to bridge the knowledge–action gap but multiple planned and surprising opportunities emerge during the process. Overall, our approach contributes to advance sustainability transformations in catchment management and governance by understanding how transdisciplinary projects can initiate and are a part of evolving knowledge-action processes.

TANGGUNG JAWAB HUKUM DIREKSI PERSEROAN TERBATAS TERBUKA PADA MEKANISME PELAKSANAAN RUPS SECARA ELEKTRONIK BERDASARKAN POJK 15 TAHUN 2020

research discusses the legal responsibilities of directors in conducting electronic General Meetings of Shareholders (GMS) in Public Limited Companies (PT Terbuka), based on Financial Services Authority (OJK) Regulations Number 15 and 16 of 2020. These regulations were issued to facilitate the digital transformation of corporate governance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The directors are responsible for ensuring that the GMS is conducted in compliance with applicable legal provisions, including the electronic submission of meeting agendas, announcements, and shareholder invitations. This study aims to analyze how these OJK regulations affect the obligations and responsibilities of directors in conducting electronic GMS, as well as the legal implications if the directors fail to fulfill their obligations. The research employs a juridical-empirical method by collecting primary data through interviews and direct observations, along with secondary data from literature reviews. The results show that OJK Regulations 15 and 16 of 2020 have significantly altered the GMS procedures, imposing legal consequences on directors in Indonesia's capital markets