Governing in a digitalized era

This chapter aims to discuss challenges related to governing in a digitalized era. In the public sector, digitalization and ICT solutions are regarded as a way to alleviate the burden of a sector under pressure. The suggested solutions are many, from computers making decisions to robots substituting teachers. Through digitalization resources can be freed up and public service provision be delivered more efficiently. This transformation is, however, far from unproblematic. Digitalization is complicated and is perhaps not always the panacea it is portrayed as being. During the last couple of years, researchers have started to pay attention to the consequences of digitalization on public service. This chapter explores some of these consequences. This will be accomplished by drawing on existing research within the field of organization and governance, as well as the field of business law.