<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study examines public organisations planning big data-driven transformations in their service provision. Without radical structural change or managerial system changes, leaders face dilemmas: simply bolting on big data makes little difference. This study is based on a qualitative empirical case study using data collected from the cities of Helsinki and Tampere in Finland. The three core dilemma pairs detected and connected to the big data-related organisational changes are: (1) repetitive continuity vs. visionary change, (2) risk-taking vs. security-seeking and (3) technology-based development vs. human-based development. This study suggests that organisational readiness involves not only capabilities; instead, readiness involves absorbing knowledge, making decisions, handling ambiguities, managing dilemmas. Thus, big data-related transformations in public organisations require embracing the world of dilemmas, since selected and cancelled experiments may each have valuable outcomes. The capability to act on intentions is a prerequisite for readiness; however, a preparedness to detect and address dilemmas is central to big data-related transformations. Thus, the ability to make dilemma decisions is a more complicated characteristic of readiness. In conclusion, our data analysis suggests that traditional public organisational and chance management approaches produce unsolved dilemmas in big data-related organisational changes.</p></abstract>

This study examines public organisations planning big data-driven transformations in their service provision. Without radical structural change or managerial system changes, leaders face dilemmas: simply bolting on big data makes little difference. This study is based on a qualitative empirical case study using data collected from the cities of Helsinki and Tampere in Finland. The three core dilemma pairs detected and connected to the big data-related organisational changes are: (1) repetitive continuity vs. visionary change, (2) risk-taking vs. security-seeking and (3) technology-based development vs. human-based development. This study suggests that organisational readiness involves not only capabilities; instead, readiness involves absorbing knowledge, making decisions, handling ambiguities, managing dilemmas. Thus, big data-related transformations in public organisations require embracing the world of dilemmas, since selected and cancelled experiments may each have valuable outcomes. The capability to act on intentions is a prerequisite for readiness; however, a preparedness to detect and address dilemmas is central to big data-related transformations. Thus, the ability to make dilemma decisions is a more complicated characteristic of readiness. In conclusion, our data analysis suggests that traditional public organisational and chance management approaches produce unsolved dilemmas in big data-related organisational changes.

Examining the Core Dilemmas Hindering Big Data-related Transformations in Public-Sector Organisations

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This study examines public organisations planning big data-driven transformations in their service provision. Without radical structural change or managerial...

Examining the Core Dilemmas Hindering Big Data-related Transformations in Public-Sector Organisations

Published Online: Dec 11, 2019

Page range: 131 - 156

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nispa-2019-0017

Keywords
Big data, public organisation, dilemma approach, readiness, change management

© 2019 Päivikki Kuoppakangas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Examining the Core Dilemmas Hindering Big Data-related Transformations in Public-Sector Organisations

Published Online: Dec 11, 2019

Page range: 131 - 156

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nispa-2019-0017

KeywordsBig data, public organisation, dilemma approach, readiness, change management

© 2019 Päivikki Kuoppakangas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Big data, public organisation, dilemma approach, readiness, change management