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Data science, artificial intelligence and the third wave of digital era governance
Open accessAbstract
This article examines the model of digital era governance (DEG) in the light of the latest-wave of data-driven technologies, such as data science methodologies and artificial intelligence (labelled here DSAI). It identifies four key top-level macro-themes through which digital changes in response to these developments may be investigated. First, the capability to store and analyse large quantities of digital data obviates the need for data 'compression' that characterises Weberian-model bureaucracies, and facilitates data de-compression in data-intensive, information regimes, where the capabilities of public agencies and civil society are both enhanced. Second, the increasing capability of robotic devices have expanded the range of tasks that machines extending or substituting workers' capabilities can perform, with implications for a reshaping of state organisation. Third, DSAI technologies allow new ways of partitioning state functions in ways that can maximise organisational productivity, in an 'intelligent centre, devolved delivery' model within vertical policy sectors. Fourth, within each tier of government, DSAI technologies offer new possibilities for 'administrative holism' - the horizontal allocation of power and functions between organisations, through state integration, common capacity and needs-based joining-up of services. Together, these four themes comprise a third wave of DEG changes, suggesting important administrative choices to be made regarding information regimes, state organisation, functional allocation and outsourcing arrangements, as well as a long-term research agenda for public administration, requiring extensive and detailed analysis. This article has been accepted for publication in the Sage journal Public Policy and Administration, August 2023.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Dunleavy, P., & Margetts, H.
- Affiliations
- London School of Economics and Political Science (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Margetts, Helen
- Venue
- Public Policy and Administration
- Publisher
- Center for Open Science
- Published
- 2023-08-28
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 185-214
- ISSN
- 0952-0767 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4387025480
- Cited by
- 186
- References
- 87
- Citations by year
- 2026: 83 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 182.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Public Policy and Administration (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
- London School of Economics and Political Science Theses Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › E-Government and Public Services
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Public Administration and Political Analysis
- Keywords
- digital era governance, data science, artificial intelligence, robotic devices, state organization, outsourcing, information regime, public administration
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