ICTs and value creation in public sector: Manufacturing logic vs service logic

Abstract

This paper contributes to the e-government literature discussing the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as an enabler of different modes of production of public services. E-government developments are often associated with organizational transformations aimed to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the internal production of public services or to facilitate the exchange of information and the coordination among different public organizations. However, ICTs can also enable the co-production of public services allowing citizens or non-public organizations, such as NGOs, social enterprises or private companies to co-produce public services with public sector organizations. ICTs can generate new relationships and dynamics that involve actors and resources outside public organizations, modifying the ways by which the value embedded in the services is produced. This paper critically describes and compares four different ICT mediated modes of production in the light of the two different logics of value creation. For each mode of public service production we identify the associated benefits, risks and possible solutions that can be deployed to mitigate the risks.