Erna Ruijer
Biographic Data
| ID | 4154783 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Erna Ruijer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Erna |
| FAMILY NAME | Ruijer |
| SIGNATURE | RUIJER E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Utrecht University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2907-1454 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 123 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 8 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
A Case for Liberatory Public Service in Public Performance Measurement and Management
Public Performance Measurement and Management (PPMM) has traditionally emphasized efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, with equity issues often receiving less sustained engagement. This imbalance can cause performance systems to reproduce harm, particularly for multiply marginalized communities. This article advances theory and praxis for social equity and justice in public performance measurement and management (PPMM) by applying the Liberato…
The twin transition puzzle
Cities are increasingly expected to harness the potential of the “twin transition” — the coupling of sustainability and digital transitions — to shape the speed and direction of socio-technical change. Yet, little is known about how the twin transition imperative is approached and acted upon by city governments and what internal capabilities and support structures they develop to align the twin transition. Drawing on 82 interviews and extensive d…
Government Capabilities for the Twin Transition
Two different external socio-technical developments – the (ecological) sustainability transition and the digital transition – require governments to build the capability to respond and lead the way. While there is extensive literature on the sustainable transition and on the digital transition, so far limited attention has been paid to the interconnectedness of these transitions. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the government capabilitie…
Towards a Framework for Digital Governance Curricula
Digital technologies are rapidly becoming deeply entrenched in society. These technologies provide challenges and opportunities for democratic and organizational processes, and social interactions between governments and citizens. In this study, we focus on the skills governance students need to obtain to fully grasp the opportunities and challenges raised by digitalization in the public sector and society at large. Using a design approach, we fi…
Public Sector Capabilities and Individual Skills Needed for the Digital Transition
T his special issue aims to unpack what competencies public managers, policy makers, and public leaders need to manage and cope with the digital transition and what this implies for teaching digital governance. We situate digital governance into a wider context of socio-technical change, by using a multilevel perspective based on transition scholarship and the recent debate on directionality. This allows us to capture the public sector capabiliti…
Governing Ethics for the Digital Transformation
The digital transformation in the public sector and administrative organizations promises to enhance efficiency and personalized service delivery. At the same time, the usage of digital technologies such as algorithms, chatbots, and camera surveillance can jeopardize citizens' fundamental rights and public values, like autonomy and privacy. To mitigate risks of digital technologies, embedding digital ethics as an organizational practice is necess…
Digital leadership in local government
Local governments across the world are adopting new digital technologies to improve their services and to create public value. These new digital technologies challenge traditional forms of leadership. So far, few empirical studies have focused on what digital transformation implies for leadership in the public sector. Based on theories of leadership, digital transformation, and public value, we identify nine dimensions of digital leadership. Base…
Studying complex systems through design interventions Probing open government data ecosystems in the Netherlands
Recently, we have seen a rising interest in the study of complex systems in public administration. This paper demonstrates how specific design interventions, also referred to as ‘probes’, can be used to investigate complex systems. The value of this strategy is demonstrated by probing three open data ecosystems in the Netherlands. The probes produce a new understanding of the interrelations between underlying patterns and dynamics of open governm…
Smart cities & citizen discontent
Open data work for empowered deliberative democracy
Open government data have the potential to facilitate democratic debate and collaboration between government and citizens. This assumes that citizens can effectively use data. However, not all citizens possess these skills. Building on the Empowered Deliberative Democracy Framework, this study examined how open data work - a variety of interventions and activities facilitated by intermediaries - can foster inclusive democratic processes at the lo…
Foundations of information literacy, Taylor, Natalie Greene, and Paul T. Jaeger. ALA Neal-Schuman, 2022
With the importance of Information literacy evident during the pandemic, individuals needed to find relevant information online that helped them understand the world around them.Information literacy provides individuals with a framework to employ critical thinking skills to negotiate information for their jobs, their health, and includes aspects of digital literacy, and media literacy.Examining the role of information literacy in social, cultural…
Country report
Promoting the participation of the citizenry is the cornerstone of socially inclusive governance. Public participation ensures that citizens are heard and can actively participate in the decision that impacts their needs. Besides increasing efficiency, this increased transparency brought about by the universal use and access of ICT has inadvertently led to a reduction in corruption. In 2022, each county has set up a website with different informa…
A citizen-centric approach to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals
A citizen-centric approach was used to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals in India. So, the study aims to find the factors of e-government (i.e., information clarity and appropriateness, relevance & usefulness, information accuracy & completeness, system security, users’ privacy, system stability, and interactive services) and their influence on citizen perception, citizen satisfaction, and users’ intention. Since the e-gove…
Development of e-government in the field of social services and benefits
This paper investigates from a comparative perspective the development of e-government in the field of social services and benefits for the case of Romania. The analysis takes into account the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where there has been an increased usage of ICT technology and new circumstances for delivering social services. Therefore, the analysis will examine whether there has been an impetus for developing e-government socia…
Introduction to the special issue on Inclusion and E-Government
An emergent mechanism of inclusive e-Government design
Open e-Government scholarship is meant to address the twin dimensions of openness: greater transparent access to data and more inclusive participation in design. Extant research, however, rarely addresses the inclusive design of e-Government, which is the focus of our research. We focus on broad desire for inclusive e-Government design by analyzing data from three countries – United Kingdom, Lebanon, and Qatar – involving (a) a qualitative survey…
Social equity in the data era
Governments increasingly rely on large amounts of data to deliver public services. In response, there is a robust discussion about the implications of this trend for efficiency and economy, but much less attention is paid to social equity. To address this issue, our study synthesizes cross‐disciplinary research on the relationship between data‐driven public services and social equity. Based on a systematic literature review of 190 articles coveri…
Whose open data is it anyway? An exploratory study of open government data relevance and implications for democratic inclusion
Open government data (OGD) is believed to enhance democratic outcomes by empowering citizens with the information necessary to participate in meaningful ways. Nonetheless, questions remain about whether OGD is indeed empowering citizens to participate or if the data that governments publish is more reflective of the interests of non-citizen stakeholders. Using the metadata of 2607 publicly available datasets scraped from New York City’s open data…
The effects of open government data on the inclusiveness of governance networks
In order to improve legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness for both policy making and service delivery, governance networks can benefit from the knowledge, skills and other key resources of external actors. However, these networks are often prone to social and cognitive exclusion of outsiders, reducing the potential benefits of greater inclusiveness and diversity. Inclusiveness within governance networks is defined here as the possibility f…
Designing and implementing data collaboratives
Recently, attention has been paid to the opportunities of data sharing across government sectors for complex public problems. These so-called ‘data collaboratives’ are seen as a novel way of leveraging different sources of data and expertise for societal impact. Data collaboratives come with new challenges that might require new governance structures and processes. So far, scant attention has been paid in the literature to data collaborative gove…
The Politics of Open Government Data
This article contributes to the growing body of literature within public management on open government data by taking a political perspective. We argue that open government data are a strategic resource of organizations and therefore organizations are not likely to share it. We develop an analytical framework for studying the politics of open government data, based on theories of strategic responses to institutional processes, government transpar…
Open data work
During recent years, the amount of data released on platforms by public administrations around the world have exploded. Open government data platforms are aimed at enhancing transparency and participation. Even though the promises of these platforms are high, their full potential has not yet been reached. Scholars have identified technical and quality barriers of open data usage. Although useful, these issues fail to acknowledge that the meaning …
Researching the democratic impact of open government data
This systematic literature review examines the impact of open government data on democratic societies. The paper uses a multidimensional operationalization of democracy, concentrating on monitorial, deliberative and participatory processes. It presents expected and found impact of open government data on democratic processes, an overview of the indicators used to measure impact and challenges of realizing impact. The results show that so far limi…
Connecting societal issues, users and data. Scenario-based design of open data platforms
Open data for democracy
Open data platforms are hoped to foster democratic processes, yet recent empirical research shows that so far they have failed to do so. We argue that current open data platforms do not take into account the complexity of democratic processes which results in overly simplistic approaches to open data platform design. Democratic processes are multifaceted and open data can be used for various purposes, with diverging roles, rules and tools by citi…
Open data for democracy
Open data platforms are hoped to foster democratic processes, yet recent empirical research shows that so far they have failed to do so. We argue that current open data platforms do not take into account the complexity of democratic processes which results in overly simplistic approaches to open data platform design. Democratic processes are multifaceted and open data can be used for various purposes, with diverging roles, rules and tools by citi…
The Politics of Open Government Data
This article contributes to the growing body of literature within public management on open government data by taking a political perspective. We argue that open government data are a strategic resource of organizations and therefore organizations are not likely to share it. We develop an analytical framework for studying the politics of open government data, based on theories of strategic responses to institutional processes, government transpar…
Social equity in the data era
Governments increasingly rely on large amounts of data to deliver public services. In response, there is a robust discussion about the implications of this trend for efficiency and economy, but much less attention is paid to social equity. To address this issue, our study synthesizes cross‐disciplinary research on the relationship between data‐driven public services and social equity. Based on a systematic literature review of 190 articles coveri…
Designing and implementing data collaboratives
Recently, attention has been paid to the opportunities of data sharing across government sectors for complex public problems. These so-called ‘data collaboratives’ are seen as a novel way of leveraging different sources of data and expertise for societal impact. Data collaboratives come with new challenges that might require new governance structures and processes. So far, scant attention has been paid in the literature to data collaborative gove…
Open data work
During recent years, the amount of data released on platforms by public administrations around the world have exploded. Open government data platforms are aimed at enhancing transparency and participation. Even though the promises of these platforms are high, their full potential has not yet been reached. Scholars have identified technical and quality barriers of open data usage. Although useful, these issues fail to acknowledge that the meaning …
Whose open data is it anyway? An exploratory study of open government data relevance and implications for democratic inclusion
Open government data (OGD) is believed to enhance democratic outcomes by empowering citizens with the information necessary to participate in meaningful ways. Nonetheless, questions remain about whether OGD is indeed empowering citizens to participate or if the data that governments publish is more reflective of the interests of non-citizen stakeholders. Using the metadata of 2607 publicly available datasets scraped from New York City’s open data…
Connecting societal issues, users and data. Scenario-based design of open data platforms
Variants of transparency
Transparency policies and initiatives at the local level have expanded around the world but our academic understanding is still limited. Few studies have systematically analysed transparency practices at the local government level. This paper develops an analytical framework to examine local government transparency practices based on the literature. The framework is used to analyse the English Local Government Transparency Code 2015. The study sh…
The effects of open government data on the inclusiveness of governance networks
In order to improve legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness for both policy making and service delivery, governance networks can benefit from the knowledge, skills and other key resources of external actors. However, these networks are often prone to social and cognitive exclusion of outsiders, reducing the potential benefits of greater inclusiveness and diversity. Inclusiveness within governance networks is defined here as the possibility f…
Researching the democratic impact of open government data
This systematic literature review examines the impact of open government data on democratic societies. The paper uses a multidimensional operationalization of democracy, concentrating on monitorial, deliberative and participatory processes. It presents expected and found impact of open government data on democratic processes, an overview of the indicators used to measure impact and challenges of realizing impact. The results show that so far limi…
Digital leadership in local government
Local governments across the world are adopting new digital technologies to improve their services and to create public value. These new digital technologies challenge traditional forms of leadership. So far, few empirical studies have focused on what digital transformation implies for leadership in the public sector. Based on theories of leadership, digital transformation, and public value, we identify nine dimensions of digital leadership. Base…
Open data work for empowered deliberative democracy
Open government data have the potential to facilitate democratic debate and collaboration between government and citizens. This assumes that citizens can effectively use data. However, not all citizens possess these skills. Building on the Empowered Deliberative Democracy Framework, this study examined how open data work - a variety of interventions and activities facilitated by intermediaries - can foster inclusive democratic processes at the lo…
Social Equity, Policy Intentions and Unanticipated Outcomes
Robert Merton's theoretical formulations of unanticipated consequences provide a useful tool for understanding the consequences of government policies. In this case study the work–life balance policies in the Netherlands over the past decade are analyzed. Based on the current understanding of family-friendly policies, one can assume that the policy intended to promote gender equality did not necessarily lead to equity in the workplace. This case …
Social Equity, Policy Intentions and Unanticipated Outcomes
Robert Merton's theoretical formulations of unanticipated consequences provide a useful tool for understanding the consequences of government policies. In this case study the work–life balance policies in the Netherlands over the past decade are analyzed. Based on the current understanding of family-friendly policies, one can assume that the policy intended to promote gender equality did not necessarily lead to equity in the workplace. This case …
Variants of transparency
Transparency policies and initiatives at the local level have expanded around the world but our academic understanding is still limited. Few studies have systematically analysed transparency practices at the local government level. This paper develops an analytical framework to examine local government transparency practices based on the literature. The framework is used to analyse the English Local Government Transparency Code 2015. The study sh…
Researching the democratic impact of open government data
This systematic literature review examines the impact of open government data on democratic societies. The paper uses a multidimensional operationalization of democracy, concentrating on monitorial, deliberative and participatory processes. It presents expected and found impact of open government data on democratic processes, an overview of the indicators used to measure impact and challenges of realizing impact. The results show that so far limi…
Connecting societal issues, users and data. Scenario-based design of open data platforms
Open data for democracy
Open data platforms are hoped to foster democratic processes, yet recent empirical research shows that so far they have failed to do so. We argue that current open data platforms do not take into account the complexity of democratic processes which results in overly simplistic approaches to open data platform design. Democratic processes are multifaceted and open data can be used for various purposes, with diverging roles, rules and tools by citi…
Open data work
During recent years, the amount of data released on platforms by public administrations around the world have exploded. Open government data platforms are aimed at enhancing transparency and participation. Even though the promises of these platforms are high, their full potential has not yet been reached. Scholars have identified technical and quality barriers of open data usage. Although useful, these issues fail to acknowledge that the meaning …
The Politics of Open Government Data
This article contributes to the growing body of literature within public management on open government data by taking a political perspective. We argue that open government data are a strategic resource of organizations and therefore organizations are not likely to share it. We develop an analytical framework for studying the politics of open government data, based on theories of strategic responses to institutional processes, government transpar…
Designing and implementing data collaboratives
Recently, attention has been paid to the opportunities of data sharing across government sectors for complex public problems. These so-called ‘data collaboratives’ are seen as a novel way of leveraging different sources of data and expertise for societal impact. Data collaboratives come with new challenges that might require new governance structures and processes. So far, scant attention has been paid in the literature to data collaborative gove…
Foundations of information literacy, Taylor, Natalie Greene, and Paul T. Jaeger. ALA Neal-Schuman, 2022
With the importance of Information literacy evident during the pandemic, individuals needed to find relevant information online that helped them understand the world around them.Information literacy provides individuals with a framework to employ critical thinking skills to negotiate information for their jobs, their health, and includes aspects of digital literacy, and media literacy.Examining the role of information literacy in social, cultural…
Country report
Promoting the participation of the citizenry is the cornerstone of socially inclusive governance. Public participation ensures that citizens are heard and can actively participate in the decision that impacts their needs. Besides increasing efficiency, this increased transparency brought about by the universal use and access of ICT has inadvertently led to a reduction in corruption. In 2022, each county has set up a website with different informa…
A citizen-centric approach to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals
A citizen-centric approach was used to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals in India. So, the study aims to find the factors of e-government (i.e., information clarity and appropriateness, relevance & usefulness, information accuracy & completeness, system security, users’ privacy, system stability, and interactive services) and their influence on citizen perception, citizen satisfaction, and users’ intention. Since the e-gove…
Development of e-government in the field of social services and benefits
This paper investigates from a comparative perspective the development of e-government in the field of social services and benefits for the case of Romania. The analysis takes into account the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where there has been an increased usage of ICT technology and new circumstances for delivering social services. Therefore, the analysis will examine whether there has been an impetus for developing e-government socia…
Introduction to the special issue on Inclusion and E-Government
An emergent mechanism of inclusive e-Government design
Open e-Government scholarship is meant to address the twin dimensions of openness: greater transparent access to data and more inclusive participation in design. Extant research, however, rarely addresses the inclusive design of e-Government, which is the focus of our research. We focus on broad desire for inclusive e-Government design by analyzing data from three countries – United Kingdom, Lebanon, and Qatar – involving (a) a qualitative survey…
Social equity in the data era
Governments increasingly rely on large amounts of data to deliver public services. In response, there is a robust discussion about the implications of this trend for efficiency and economy, but much less attention is paid to social equity. To address this issue, our study synthesizes cross‐disciplinary research on the relationship between data‐driven public services and social equity. Based on a systematic literature review of 190 articles coveri…
Whose open data is it anyway? An exploratory study of open government data relevance and implications for democratic inclusion
Open government data (OGD) is believed to enhance democratic outcomes by empowering citizens with the information necessary to participate in meaningful ways. Nonetheless, questions remain about whether OGD is indeed empowering citizens to participate or if the data that governments publish is more reflective of the interests of non-citizen stakeholders. Using the metadata of 2607 publicly available datasets scraped from New York City’s open data…
The effects of open government data on the inclusiveness of governance networks
In order to improve legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness for both policy making and service delivery, governance networks can benefit from the knowledge, skills and other key resources of external actors. However, these networks are often prone to social and cognitive exclusion of outsiders, reducing the potential benefits of greater inclusiveness and diversity. Inclusiveness within governance networks is defined here as the possibility f…
Studying complex systems through design interventions Probing open government data ecosystems in the Netherlands
Recently, we have seen a rising interest in the study of complex systems in public administration. This paper demonstrates how specific design interventions, also referred to as ‘probes’, can be used to investigate complex systems. The value of this strategy is demonstrated by probing three open data ecosystems in the Netherlands. The probes produce a new understanding of the interrelations between underlying patterns and dynamics of open governm…
Smart cities & citizen discontent
Open data work for empowered deliberative democracy
Open government data have the potential to facilitate democratic debate and collaboration between government and citizens. This assumes that citizens can effectively use data. However, not all citizens possess these skills. Building on the Empowered Deliberative Democracy Framework, this study examined how open data work - a variety of interventions and activities facilitated by intermediaries - can foster inclusive democratic processes at the lo…
Digital leadership in local government
Local governments across the world are adopting new digital technologies to improve their services and to create public value. These new digital technologies challenge traditional forms of leadership. So far, few empirical studies have focused on what digital transformation implies for leadership in the public sector. Based on theories of leadership, digital transformation, and public value, we identify nine dimensions of digital leadership. Base…
A Case for Liberatory Public Service in Public Performance Measurement and Management
Public Performance Measurement and Management (PPMM) has traditionally emphasized efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, with equity issues often receiving less sustained engagement. This imbalance can cause performance systems to reproduce harm, particularly for multiply marginalized communities. This article advances theory and praxis for social equity and justice in public performance measurement and management (PPMM) by applying the Liberato…
The twin transition puzzle
Cities are increasingly expected to harness the potential of the “twin transition” — the coupling of sustainability and digital transitions — to shape the speed and direction of socio-technical change. Yet, little is known about how the twin transition imperative is approached and acted upon by city governments and what internal capabilities and support structures they develop to align the twin transition. Drawing on 82 interviews and extensive d…
Government Capabilities for the Twin Transition
Two different external socio-technical developments – the (ecological) sustainability transition and the digital transition – require governments to build the capability to respond and lead the way. While there is extensive literature on the sustainable transition and on the digital transition, so far limited attention has been paid to the interconnectedness of these transitions. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the government capabilitie…
Towards a Framework for Digital Governance Curricula
Digital technologies are rapidly becoming deeply entrenched in society. These technologies provide challenges and opportunities for democratic and organizational processes, and social interactions between governments and citizens. In this study, we focus on the skills governance students need to obtain to fully grasp the opportunities and challenges raised by digitalization in the public sector and society at large. Using a design approach, we fi…
E-Government and Public Services (21 works) · Political science (18 works) · Government (linguistics (16 works) · Business (14 works) · Public relations (13 works) · Computer Science (12 works) · Open government (9 works) · Public Policy and Administration Research (9 works) · Open data (8 works) · Public Administration (8 works)