Exploring the tension between transparency and datification effects of open government IS through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems

Marjanovic, O; Cecez-Kecmanovic, D

Exploring the tension between transparency and datification effects of open government IS through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems

Marjanovic, O

Cecez-Kecmanovic, D

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2017, 26, (3), pp. 210-232
Issue Date:: 2017-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Marjanovic, O https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-0982
dc.contributor.author	Cecez-Kecmanovic, D
dc.date.accessioned	2022-07-12T03:05:01Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-12T03:05:01Z
dc.date.issued	2017-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2017, 26, (3), pp. 210-232
dc.identifier.issn	0963-8687
dc.identifier.issn	1873-1198
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/158793
dc.description.abstract	Government agencies worldwide continue their commitment to providing open data in order to increase transparency of education, healthcare and other public services. Focusing on open government information systems (IS) that provide performance-related data, this paper explores the ongoing tension between government's goal of transparency and the resulting largely opaque datification effects. Our research insights are derived from an empirical longitudinal study of a controversial open government IS called My School, currently providing performance data on almost 10,000 schools in Australia. We investigate the tension between transparency intended with schools’ open performance data and datification effects they create within the education system and a broader society, through the theoretical lens of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). Our study reveals how the tension emerges due to unpredictable use, propagation and reinterpretation of open data by more and more users. Consequently, the original meaning of data gets distorted, as these users continue to reconstruct and reinterpret ‘data’ in their own contexts and adapt their behavior in pursuit of their strategic goals. We also identify and theorize seven datification patterns underlying the tension and the ways they produce various social consequences. Based on these research contributions we discuss important strategic implications for government decision makers and identify new opportunities for future research on open government IS.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Strategic Information Systems
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jsis.2017.07.001
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0801 Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, 0806 Information Systems, 1503 Business and Management
dc.subject.classification	Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
dc.title	Exploring the tension between transparency and datification effects of open government IS through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	26
utslib.for	0801 Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
utslib.for	0806 Information Systems
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Professional Practice and Leadership
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - PERSWADE - Centre on Persuasive Systems for Wise Adaptive Living
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-07-12T03:05:00Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	26
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Government agencies worldwide continue their commitment to providing open data in order to increase transparency of education, healthcare and other public services. Focusing on open government information systems (IS) that provide performance-related data, this paper explores the ongoing tension between government's goal of transparency and the resulting largely opaque datification effects. Our research insights are derived from an empirical longitudinal study of a controversial open government IS called My School, currently providing performance data on almost 10,000 schools in Australia. We investigate the tension between transparency intended with schools’ open performance data and datification effects they create within the education system and a broader society, through the theoretical lens of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). Our study reveals how the tension emerges due to unpredictable use, propagation and reinterpretation of open data by more and more users. Consequently, the original meaning of data gets distorted, as these users continue to reconstruct and reinterpret ‘data’ in their own contexts and adapt their behavior in pursuit of their strategic goals. We also identify and theorize seven datification patterns underlying the tension and the ways they produce various social consequences. Based on these research contributions we discuss important strategic implications for government decision makers and identify new opportunities for future research on open government IS.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/158793