A Research Roadmap to Advance Data Collaboratives Practice as a Novel Research Direction

2. Data Collaboratives As A Novel Research Direction

Digital government fosters the use of information and technology to support and improve public policies and government operations, engage citizens, and provide comprehensive and timely government services. The global digital government research community is interested in the development and impact of digital government. The community exists at the intersection of computer and information science, social and behavioral science, and focuses on the needs and problems of government. Building new knowledge about data collaboratives as a complex phenomenon is in line with the interests of this community.

There has been a lot of work done in the field of data sharing in the digital government community (e.g. Landsbergen & Wolken, 2002; Gil-Garcia & Pardo, 2005) and only recently the focus has shifted towards the inclusion of private parties (Bharosa, et al, 2013). The same is true for work related to information sharing and collaboration among government organizations. Tung-Mou and Maxwell (2010, p.73) reviewed literature for factors affecting information sharing, which include promotion of a culture of information stewardship as opposed to ownership; strong leadership support to information sharing efforts; legislative and regulatory mandates; reward systems that promote information sharing both within and across organizations; the establishment of shared goals; and the development of ongoing trusted relationships based on mutual understanding of needs and concerns and shared responsibility. Gil-Garcia, Chun, and Janssen (2009) discussed the challenges to government information sharing and integration and grouped them in technical, organizational, political, and legal categories. Data collaboratives introduce new complexities to these collaborative engagements, with the private sector playing a bigger role and the need for new structures, procedures, processes, and practices to shape new ways of working.