Transforming Governmental Systems

Abstract

Governmental as well as other public systems are facing new challenges due to, among other things, current information technology trends and changes in peoples’ lifestyles. Hence, ideas of web services for the citizens and agencies accessible over the net 24-hours per day are born. However, in order to implement this new type of net-based services a set of accessibility, integrity and security problems and hindrances are to be overcome. Further, the methodological challenges are far from unproblematic. Neither the artefact approach nor the approach of social systems design seems to be directly applicable. Instead, an approach called pragmatic systemics is proposed. At last, organizational transformation is not only a technical problem. Seen in a systemic perspective, the technological changes and the introduction of new artefacts have to be carefully balanced with changes in human competence, organizational structures, and system culture.

Keywords:

•  e-services
• e-government
• change methodology
• artefact approach
• social systems design
• pragmatic systemic approach

Notes on contributors

Stig C. Holmberg received the Msc and PhD from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He is now professor emeritus at Mid Sweden University and served as the head of its Informatics and System Design (ISD) study program during the 1980s and the 1990s. His main research interests include modelling and design methods and applications of fuzzy, anticipatory, and spatial information systems.

Ulrica Löfstedt received the Msc and a PhD in Computer and Systems Science from Mid Sweden University in Östersund, Sweden. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Informatics at Mid Sweden University. Her main research interests include technical communication and design methods for e-Government systems and e-Participation systems.

Notes

1 www.statskontoret.se.

2 Minutes from the Söråker Seminar, May 2002. Lennart Bergström, Mid Sweden University.