Abstract
The growing participation in social networking sites is altering the nature of social relations and changing the nature of political and public dialogue. This paper contributes to the current debate on Web 2.0 technologies and their implications for local governance, identifying the perceptions of policy makers on the use of Web 2.0 in providing public services and on the changing roles that could arise from the resulting interaction between local governments and their stakeholders. The results obtained suggest that policy makers are willing to implement Web 2.0 technologies in providing public services, but preferably under the Bureaucratic model framework, thus retaining a leading role in this implementation. The learning curve of local governments in the use of Web 2.0 technologies is a factor that could influence policy makers’ perceptions. In this respect, many research gaps are identified and further study of the question is recommended.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
In this paper, Web 2.0 should be viewed as a networked platform, spanning connected devices to encourage collaboration, in terms of the creation, organization, linking and sharing of content [3]. Thus, it is related to the technical platform on which social media applications are built to create and exchange user-generated content.
References
Christofides, E., Muise, A., & Desmarais, S. (2009). Information disclosure and control on Facebook: Are they two sides of the same coin or two different processes? CyberPsychology and Behavior, 12(3), 3411–3450.
Osimo, D. (2008). Web 2.0 in government: Why? and How? Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre, European Commission. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
O’Reilly, T. (2007). What is Web 2.0: Design patterns and business models for the next generation of software. Communications and Strategies, 65, 18–37.
Johnston, E., & Hansen, D. (2011). Design lessons for smart governance infrastructures. In D. Ink, A. Balutis, & T. Buss (Eds.), American governance 3.0: Rebooting the public square? (pp. 197–212). Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Graells-Costa, J. (2011). Administración colaborativa y en red. El profesional de la información, 20(3), 345–347.
Cromer, C. (2010). Understanding Web 2.0’s influences on public e-services: A protection motivation perspective. Innovation, 12(2), 192–205.
Curras-Pérez, R., Ruiz-Mafé, C., & Sanz-Blas, S. (2013). Social network loyalty: Evaluating the role of attitude, perceived risk and satisfaction. Online Information Review, 37(1), 61–82.
Chang, A.-M., & Kannan, P. K. (2008). Leveraging Web 2.0 in government. Washington, DC: E-Government/Technology Series, IBM Center for the Business of Government.
Sandoval-Almazan, R., & Gil-Garcia, J. (2012). Are government internet portals evolving towards more interaction, participation, and collaboration? Revisiting the rhetoric of e-government among municipalities. Government Information Quarterly, 29(Supplement 1), S72–S81.
Kaylor, C., Deshazo, R., & Van Eck, D. (2001). Gauging egovernment: A report on implementing services among American cities. Government Information Quarterly, 18(4), 293–307.
Taylor, J. A. (2012). The Information Polity: Towards a two speed future? Information Polity, 17(3–4), 227–237.
Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development Foundation (COMNET-IT). (2002). Country profiles of E-governance. Paris: UNESCO.
McDermott, P. (2010). Building open government. Government Information Quarterly, 27(4), 401–413.
Noveck, B. (2009). Wiki government: How technology can make government better, democracy stronger, and citizens more powerful. Washington, DC: Brookings Institutions Press.
Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., & Hansen, D. (2012). The impact of policies on government social media usage: Issues, challenges, and recommendations. Government Information Quarterly, 29(1), 30–40.
Mintz, D. (2008). Government 2.0—Fact or fiction? The Public Manager, 36(4), 21–24.
E-Government Academy. (2006). E-Government actions in Europe. Best European e-practices. Project part-financed by the European Union, Tallinn
European Commission. (2009). Public services 2.0. Web 2.0 from the periphery to the centre of public service delivery. Report from the ePractice workshop. Brussels: European Commision.
Criado, J. I., Sandoval-Almazan, R., & Gil-Garcia, J. R. (2013). Government innovation through social media. Government Information Quarterly, 30(4), 319–326.
Linders, D. (2012). From e-government to we-government: Defining a typology for citizen co-production in the age of social media. Government Information Quarterly, 29(4), 446–454.
Nam, T. (2012). Suggesting frameworks of citizen-sourcing via Government 2.0. Government Information Quarterly, 29(1), 12–20.
The White House. (2009). The Open Government Initiative. From http://www.whitehouse.gov/open.
Dunleavy, P., & Margetts, H. Z. (2010). The second wave of digital era governance. Paper presented at American Political Science Association Conference 2010 Annual Meeting Papers, Washington, DC.
Meijer, A. (2011). Networked co-production of public services in virtual communities: From a government-centric to a community approach to public service support. Public Administration Review, 71(4), 598–607.
Bovens, M., & Zouridis, S. (2002). From street-level to system-level bureaucracies: How information and communication technology is transforming administrative discretion and constitutional control. Public Administration Review, 62(2), 174–184.
Kooiman, J. (2003). Governing as governance. London: Sage.
Span, K. C. L., Luijkx, K. G., Schols, J. M. G. A., & Schalk, R. (2012). The relationship between governance roles and performance in local public interorganizational networks: A conceptual analysis. American Review of Public Administration, 42(2), 186–201.
Argote, L., & Epple, D. (1990). Learning curves in manufacturing. Science, 23, 920–924.
Baum, J., & Ingram, P. (1998). Survival-enhancing learning in the Manhattan hotel industry, 1898–1980. Management Science, 44(7), 996–1016.
Plaza, M., Ngwenyama, O. K., & Rohlf, K. (2010). A comparative analysis of learning curves: Implications for new technology implementation management. European Journal of Operational Research, 200, 518–528.
Fedorowicz, J., Oz, E., & Berger, P. D. (1992). A learning curve analysis of expert systems use. Decision Sciences, 23(4), 797–818.
Choi, J., Nazareth, D. L., & Jain, H. K. (2012). Information technology skills management strategies for implementing new technologies in organizations: A case of service oriented architecture. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics Part A, 42(4), 838–853.
Christiaens, J. R. (1999). Financial accounting reform in Flemish municipalities: An empirical investigation. Financial Accountability & Management, 15(1), 21–40.
Berry, J., Portney, K., & Thomson, K. (1993). The rebirth of urban democracy. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.
Peters, B. G. (2001). The future of governing. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.
Moon, M. J. (2002). The evolution of e-government among municipalities: Rhetoric or reality? Public Administration Review, 62(4), 424–433.
Torres, L., Pina, V., & Acerete, B. (2005). Gauging e-government evolution in EU municipalities. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 3(6), 43–54.
Cegarra, J. G., Córdoba, J. R., & Moreno, J. L. (2012). E-government and citizen’s engagement with local affairs through e-Websites: The case of Spanish municipalities. International Journal of Information Management, 32(5), 469–478.
Gallego, R., & Barzelay, M. (2010). Public management policymaking in Spain: The politics of legislative reform of administrative structure, 1991–1997. Governance, 23(2), 277–296.
Bastida, F. J., & Benito, B. (2006). Financial reports and decentralization in municipal governments. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 72(2), 223–238.
Orange Foundation. (2013). eEspaña. Informe anual 2013 sobre el desarrollo de la sociedad de la información en España. Madrid: Fundación Orange.
IAB Spain Research (IAB). (2013). IV Estudio Anual de Redes Sociales. Madrid: IAB.
Spanish National Statistics Institute. (2013). Internet document. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from http://www.ine.es/inebmenu/mnu_padron.htm.
Picazo-Vela, S., Gutiérrez-Martínez, I., & Luna-Reyes, L. F. (2012). Understanding risks, benefits, and strategic alternatives of social media applications in the public sector. Government Information Quarterly, 29(4), 504–511.
Gomes, R., & Sousa, L. (2012). Contributions to the development of local e-government 2.0. Future Internet, 4(4), 882–899.
Oxley, A. (2011). A best practices guide for mitigating risk in the use of social media. Washington, DC: IBM Center for The Business of Government.
Government of Canada. (2011). Guidelines for secure external use of Web 2.0. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Retrieved April, 1, 2012, from http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?section=text&id=24835.
Emerson, T. L. N., Conroy, S. J., & Stanley, W. (2007). Ethical attitudes of accountants: Recent evidence from a practitioners’ survey. Journal of Business Ethics, 71(1), 73–87.
Russell, C. J., & Bobko, P. (1992). Moderated regression analysis and Likert scales: Too coarse for comfort. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77(3), 336–342.
Hodge, D. R., & Gillespie, D. (2003). Phrase completions: An alternative to Likert scales. Social Work Research, 27(1), 45–55.
Spector, P. E. (1992). Summated rating scale construction: An introduction. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Matell, M. S., & Jacoby, J. (1971). Is there an optimal number of alternatives for Likert scale items? Study I: Reliability and validity. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 31(3), 657–674.
Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of psychology, 140, 1–55.
Bertram, D. (2007). Likert scales. Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary. Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://poincare.matf.bg.ac.rs/~kristina/topic-dane-likert.pdf.
Criado, J. I., & Ramilo, M. C. (2003). E-government in practice. An analysis of web site orientation to the citizens in Spanish municipalities. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 16(3), 191–218.
Blank, G., & Reisdorf, B. C. (2012). The participatory web. Information, Communication & Society, 15(4), 537–554.
Bennett, S., Bishop, A., Dalgarno, B., Waycott, J., & Kennedy, G. (2012). Implementing Web 2.0 technologies in higher education: A collective case study. Computers & Education, 59(2), 524–534.
García-Martín, J., & García-Sánchez, J. N. (2013). Patterns of Web 2.0 tool use among young Spanish people. Computers & Education, 67, 105–120.
Bryer, T. A., & Zavattaro, S. M. (2011). Social media and public administration. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 33(3), 325–340.
Weinberger, D. (2002). Small pieces loosely joined: A unified theory of the web. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.
Gulati, G. J., Yates, D. J. & Tawileh, A. (2010). Towards E-participation in the Middle East and Northern Europe. In C. Reddick (Ed.), Comparative E-government. Integrated series in information systems (Vol. 25, pp. 71–90). New York: Springer.
Gibson, A. (2010). Local by social. How local authorities can use social media to achieve more for less. London: NESTA.
Hibbing, J. R., & Theiss-Morse, E. (2002). Stealth democracy: Americans’ beliefs about how government should work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mergel, I. (2013). Social media adoption and resulting tactics in the U.S. Federal Government. Government Information Quarterly, 30(2), 123–130.
Jennings, M. K., & Zeitner, V. (2003). Internet use and civic engagement: A longitudinal analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(3), 311–334.
UNPAN (United Nations Public Administration Network). (2010). Spain ranks third in the ranking of E-Participation prepared by United Nations. Internet document Retrieved October, 2011, from http://www.unpan.org.
Meijer, A., & Thaens, M. (2013). Social media strategies: Understanding the differences between North American police departments. Government Information Quarterly, 30(4), 343–350.
MacKinnon, R. (2008). Flatter world and thicker walls? Blogs, censorship and civic discourse in China. Public Choice, 134, 31–46.
MacKinnon, R. (2009). China’s censorship 2.0: How companies censor bloggers. First Monday, 14(2), 1–18.
Edelenbos, J., Klijn, E. H., & Steijn, B. (2011). Managers in governance networks: How to reach good outcomes? International Public Management Journal, 14(4), 420–444.
Ferro, E., Loukis, E. N., Charalabidis, Y., & Osella, M. (2013). Policy making 2.0: From theory to practice. Government Information Quarterly, 30(4), 359–368.
Acknowledgments
This research was carried out with financial support from the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain), Department of Innovation, Science and Enterprise (Research Project Number P11-SEJ-7700). The author would like to thank the referees of this paper and the editors of the special issue for their insights and valuable suggestions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodríguez Bolívar, M.P. Policy makers’ perceptions on the transformational effect of Web 2.0 technologies on public services delivery. Electron Commer Res 17, 227–254 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-015-9196-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-015-9196-1