FIPP - Flexible Integration of Processes in Public Sector

This is a new research project supperted by the Norwegian Research Council through the VERDIKT program (link to VERDIKT).

The project involves researchers from the University of Oslo and the University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

On November 28th, 2006, we invite you to an open presentation of preliminary plans and a collaborative workshop at the University of Oslo.

A summary of the project's aims:

This project will investigate processes where ICT is employed in the public sector to establish and sustain networked collaborative work practices. Achieving change and learning in complex socio-technical assemblages involve handling of complexity, for which flexibility is a key strategy. Thus our focus is on flexibility in processes of integration of technical systems, work practices, procedures, and institutions. Analytically, the concept of flexibility is elaborated in three related and different research questions:

• How should integration be conducted so that the process is robust and practically achievable?
• How should integration be conducted so that it is sustainable?
• How should integration be conducted so that it is well balanced in terms of distribution of control and autonomy?

This study draws on a repertoire of theoretical and methodological resources from the intersection of CSCW, IS and STS. We will conduct three in-depth and longitudinal case studies employing participant observation, formal and informal interviews, and document analysis as the main data collection techniques. These cases illuminate different kinds of challenges to achieve flexible integration. Case one concerns reorganisation and process improvement in a large hospital. The second case studies the emergence of new collaborative patterns between primary and secondary health care services. Case three looks at the attempts at integrating and aligning the IT-systems of different entities in the welfare sector. These cases all exemplify phenomena that relate to achieving change in complex settings where the pre-existing and institutionalised collaborative arrangements pose significant challenges to changes. Building on the joint outcomes from these case studies, the project will aim to define guidelines for achieving more effective and efficient integration.

See also the full Project Description here.