ABSTRACT
Local government networks often develop in unpredictable environments and, as a consequence, their abilities and resources have to be prepared for flexible responses, the so-called "dynamic capabilities”. One of the most desirable capacities they might reach is resilience, understood as the skill to cope with unpredicted dangers after they become real. This paper reviews literature and conceptual outcomes resulting from the analysis and contextualization of the Dynamic Capabilities (DCs) Theory, providing a contribution to an effective improvement of resilient governance for performance measurement and management systems (PMMS) within local government networks. The fusion of the concepts of resilience, governance, and DCs applied to PMMS offers both theoretical and practical implications. Regarding the theoretical implications, the presence of DCs in resilient inter-municipal governance might help sense, shape and seize opportunities, as well as enhance, combine and reconfigure assets, not only for the single local government but also for the whole community. Concerning the practical implications, the work suggests that DCs applied to resilient governance al-low and facilitate the overcoming of bureaucratic resistances typical of public sector organizations through the networking of local governments that pursue compatible objectives. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: At exceptional times, governments are entrusted with greater authority. This creates significant concerns over governments’ transparency and accountability. This paper aims to pursue a twofold objective: assessing the patterns of open government data during the extraordinary time initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic drawing relevant policy and managerial implications regarding the future development of open data as a mechanism of accountability at times of exception. Design/methodology/approach: The study follows exploratory research, relying on a web content analysis. The empirical setting is provided by 20 Italian regional governments during the COVID-19 pandemic as a shock that has triggered an exceptional time for governments. Findings: Results on the desirable (extrinsic and intrinsic) characteristics of the data analyzed show that in the empirical setting investigated, open data does not enable to properly address the accountability concerns of a demanding forum at times of exception. Research limitations/implications: The paper enriches the state of the art on accountability and provides both scholars and practitioners (e.g. policymakers, managers, etc.) a current reading of data-driven orientation as a stimulus to the accountability of public administrations during exceptional times. Originality/value: The paper investigates open data as a condition of public accountability, assessing whether and how Italian regional governments have concretely opened their data to enable their forums to elaboration of an informed opinion about their conduct during the ongoing pandemic. This fosters the understanding of how accountability is deployed in times of exception in light of the possibilities offered by the availability of online platforms. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
Due to the chaotic circumstances related to the pandemic, new challenges and opportunities are emerging in several sectors, including the urban context. From the point of view of local governments, there could be repercussions in terms of digital growth and increased effort in the creation of smart, sustainable, accountable, and interconnected cities. The main purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate on the new connotations of the smart city paradigm due to the spread of Covid-19, in particular in identifying new key elements of the smart cities initiatives emerged by the current scenario, in addition to those identified by the consolidated literature. To meet this knowledge requirement, this study in based on a qualitative investigation approach that follows the multiple case study model. Interviews with directors, managers, and technicians of local governments shed light on new categories connected to the smart city paradigm due to the pandemic situation which, combined together, allow “transforming” the acronym of S.M.A.R.T. into a new one here proposed: Safety;Mitigation;Accountability;Resilience;Traceability. In this sense, the study offers several insights, potentially capable of generating useful implications for both researchers and professionals in the public sector. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.