Title: Moving beyond the technological neutrality myth: ICTs and power in public administration

Authors: Philipp D. Zimmermann, Matthias Finger, Philipp S. Mueller

Addresses: Institute of Economics, University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Technopole 3, 3960 Sierre, Switzerland. ' School of Continuing Education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL, Chair Management of Network Industries, Odyssea Station 5, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. ' EGAP – Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico

Abstract: Usually, Information- and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are introduced in organisations in order to increase operational efficiency, quality, and transparency. However, besides these intended effects, ICTs also have a substantial impact on the power relationships of organisations. Yet, this impact has not been properly assessed in literature and this is what we are going to do in this paper. Using a multi level governance approach we will assess the impact of the ICTs on the perceived power relationships of public administrations and their stakeholders.

Keywords: information technology; communications; ICT; public administration; organisational change; state transformation; e-governance; electronic governance; power relationships.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2008.017905

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.215 - 230

Published online: 22 Apr 2008 *

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