Platform Government in the Era of Smart Technology

Abstract

Whereas the concept of platform government emerged a decade ago and virtual states are predicted beginning early 2000s, supporting technologies and infrastructures are now being installed and implemented with highly integrative technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics, mobile computing, social media, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. This realization of platform governments leads us to rethink what have been predicted decades ago. Time has come for us to really open up real opportunities by facing realistic challenges for public management. The pressure for government innovations, such as algorithmic bureaucracy and collaborative value creation, is increasing. Attentions need to be paid with respect to how the managerial role and activities are being transformed, how the nature of work in government is fundamentally changed, and how the decision-making processes are re-institutionalized. Further research issues are discussed at the end of this Viewpoint. Evidence for Practice Platform governments predicted earlier are now being realized by highly integrative technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics, social media, mobile computing, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. Platform government demands new approaches to public management, changes the nature of work of public managers, and reshapes the decision-making processes. Algorithmic bureaucracy provisioned by these new platformization will enable more anticipatory decision-making, require stronger leadership commitment on digitalization and innovation, and provide higher agility in public management. Collaborative value creation can and will be expedited by the technological capabilities provided but also with a lot of social experimentation on these platforms. The nature of work of public managers will be changing continuously in serious orders on these platform governments.