Uncategorized – DGS

New DGS Board Members Elected!

Paula Hauser — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:04:27 +0000

We are excited to introduce the Society’s new Board leadership and newly appointed members, selected following a thoughtful and thorough review process. Most new member terms will run from 2026–2028.

Board Officers

President: Yu-Che Chen
President-Elect: Tomasz Janowski
Past President: Jing Zhang
Treasurer: Loni Hagen
Secretary: David Duenas-Cid

New Board Members

Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar
Dr. Hsien-Lee Tseng
Anastasija Nikiforova
Dr. Yue Ping Zheng
Dr. Edimara Mezzomo Luciano

We look forward to the expertise and leadership this group will bring to the Digital Government Society.
To learn more about our new and continuing Board Members, view their bios here.

Erasmus+ Academic Mobility Funds Available! Check Qualifications

Paula Hauser — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:08:19 +0000

Erasmus+ funds are transformative, opening doors to international education, cultural exchange, and innovation, and are offered by the EU program for education, training, youth and sport. For individuals, this is a chance to study or train abroad with financial backing. For organizations, it’s a way to expand networks, improve teaching, and influence policy. The program’s scale, inclusivity, and global reach make it one of the most impactful funding opportunities in education today. Find out what countries are eligible: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a/eligible-countries? See if you qualify today: – https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-organisations/learning-mobility-of-individuals/higher-education-students-and-staff

Two New Positions at the University of South Florida

Paula Hauser — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:06:36 +0000

The School of Information at the University of South Florida seeks to fill two 9-month, full-time positions with a start date of August 7, 2026. One position is for a tenure-earning Assistant Professor and requires a demonstrated record of scholarly research. The other position is for a non-tenure earning Assistant Professor of Instruction, with preference given to candidates who have a record of successful university-level teaching experience.

Minimum qualifications: Ph.D. in Information Science, Information Technology, Security Studies or a closely related discipline (e.g. Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science/Analytics, etc.) is required. Applications from individuals who are ABD will be accepted, but the degree must be conferred by appointment start date.

Preferred qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants whose research, experience or expertise focuses on Cyber and/or Strategic Intelligence Tradecraft or Information Security/Cybersecurity

Here are the links:

Job Opening ID # 41775 (Assistant Prof) – https://fa-ewkd-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/USF/job/41775/

Job Opening ID # 41776 (Asst Prof of Instruction) – https://fa-ewkd-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/USF/job/41776/

Announcing the Venue Secured for Dg.o 2027!

Paula Hauser — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:14:25 +0000

Big Announcement! The venue for the Dg.o 2027 Conference has officially been secured — we’re heading to Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), Korea! We’re thrilled to bring the global digital government community to one of Asia’s most vibrant academic and cultural hubs. Get ready for groundbreaking research, inspiring dialogue, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of Seoul. Stay tuned for dates, calls for papers, and registration information.

Deadline for Dg.o 2026 Call for Track Proposals September 19th!

Paula Hauser — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:42:54 +0000

Dg.o 2026: 27th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

Conference Theme: Collaborative Digital Transformation for Public Value Creation

September 19, 2025: Track proposals due!

The Digital Government Society (DGS) announces the 27th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research – dg.o 2026, under the theme Collaborative Digital Transformation for Public Value Creation. The dg.o 2026 will be hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, U.S.A., June 2-5, 2026. The dg.o conferences are an established forum for presentation, discussion, and demonstration of interdisciplinary research on digital government, civic engagement, artificial intelligence, technology innovation, applications, and practice. Each year, the conference brings together scholars recognized for the interdisciplinary and innovative nature of their work, their contributions to theory and practice, their focus on relevant and timely topics, and the quality of their writing.

THEME & TOPICS

This dg.o 2026 theme articulates abundant opportunities and approaches to collaborative digital transformation for the creation of public values. The advancement of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, 5G, and IoT presents governments with opportunities to transform their operations and services. Governments’ utilization of these technologies has the potential of increasing service efficiency and effectiveness and transforming government structure and processes. At the same time, governments face institutional and technological challenges to realize such transforming potential as well as unintended negative consequences of digital transformation.

Public values serve as the guide and purposes of digital transformation for digital government. Generating profits and revenues is the primary motivation for technology corporations. In contrast, public values guide digital government research and practice. These public values include, but are not limited to, effectiveness, equity, transparency, accountability, efficiency, responsiveness, fairness, etc. An enhanced understanding of how public values are created, embedded, and impacted by technology is essential for advancing digital government research.

Digital government is the use of digital technologies for the production and delivery of public services. Such use of digital technologies is ubiquitous in all public service areas. These include functional areas such as general administrative services, technology, finance and budgeting, and human resources. Examples of specific public service areas include technological infrastructure, public finance and budgeting, public safety, social services, etc. Digital government takes place at various levels of governments and communities from local, state, national, to global as well as the integration of these levels in public service production and delivery.

A collaborative approach is paramount in integration and synergy required for digital transformation. The collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence can form abundant intelligence for advancing public values. The collaboration across units and levels of government and organizations in public, nonprofit, and private sectors advances our ability to address cross-boundary societal challenges such as sustainability, climate resilience, and public health.

The dg.o 2026 theme on Collaborative Digital Transformation for Public Value Creation connects with established tracks featured at past dg.o conferences, such as:

Human-AI Collaboration in Public Service
Algorithmic bureaucracy
Application of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Computational Methods for Data-driven governance
Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector
Beyond Bureaucracy & e-Anarchy: Self-Governance of the Public Sphere and Innovative Use of Technology by Civil Society
Collaborative intelligence: humans, crowds, and machines
Comparative AI Policy and Governance
Computational methods for data-driven governance
Cybersecurity concerns and solutions in the age of Internet of beings
Data-driven services in government for evidence-based policy and Public Value
Digital Democracy & AI
Digital Government and Sustainable Development Goals
Digital Government Cybersecurity Management: Paradoxical Tensions and Responsible Innovation
Digital Government Ecosystem Cases: Collaboration for enhancing transformative innovations and overcoming challenges
Digital Government for Stronger Society
Digital Government Platform and Core Public Values
Digital Government Practitioner Track
Digital Government: Bachelor and Master Student Track
Digital Government, solidarity and social cohesion
Digital Transformation in governments
Digital Transformation in Subnational Governments
Exploring the impact of open government initiatives: transparency, participation, and governance transformation
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Government
Government Cyberinfrastructure and Platforms for Discovery and Innovation
GovTech and Digital Autonomy
Citizen Engagement Through Digital Government
Information processing and governance in the digital era
Legal Informatics – Foundations and Applications
Organizational Factors, Adoption Issues and Value Creation of Digital Government
Re-imagining flexible work in the public service: the shift to remote and hybrid offices.
Smart Cities for Social Cohesion
Smart cities: people-centric innovations in the era of citiverse
Social Media and Government – Democratic challenges, regulation, uses of platforms, and actors’ behavior
Sustainable and Ethical Public Service Co-Creation
Sustainable Public and Open Data Ecosystems for inclusive and innovative Digital Government

We encourage past track chairs to update and submit their track. In addition, we invite new tracks to address existing and emerging research challenges related to the dg.o 2026 theme, collaborative digital transformation for public value creation.

Tracks should be related to digital government, but do not have to be limited to the conference theme. Track proposals will be selected based on the reputation of the track chairs in the proposed field, successful track performance in the past, novelty, coherence of the topics covered in alignment with the digital government themes that are of interest to the research and practitioner communities. We also welcome new tracks that were not featured in the past.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMATS:

Submit track proposals to Yu-Che Chen (ychen@unomaha.edu), Jing Zhang (JIZhang@clarku.edu), Tomasz Janowski (tomasz.janowski@pg.edu.pl), and Jooho Lee (jooholee@unomaha.edu).

Submission of your track proposal should complete the proposal template attached.

Track Proposal Submission and decision deadlines:

September 19, 2025: Track proposals due

For the Template to submit proposal, contact Phauser@albany.edu.

September 26, 2025: Acceptance notification for tracks October 3, 2025: First call for papers for all tracks

Track chair eligibility: at the time of the track proposal, the chairs should be reminded of the following eligibility criteria for acceptance.

The track chairs are responsible for the following conference organization activities:

Attend the online monthly organization meetings
Promote the track continuously during the Call for Papers, seeking a good number of quality submissions
Monitor the submitted track papers and oversee the review of the submitted papers
Propose to accept/reject papers for the track
Communicate with the Program Chairs and Program Committee Members
Support Program Chairs on the session plan
Chair the track sessions
Select and nominate papers from the track for the best paper award
Support the identification of good papers to be invited to special issues in partner journals
Register and attend the conference.

Opportunities for Journal Special Issues

Track chairs may be able to edit a special issue based on their track papers. Some possible venues include but not limited to:

Government Information Quarterly
Digital Government: Research and Practice
Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy
International Journal of E-Government Research
Information Polity
International Journal of E-Planning Research
International Journal of Public Administration in the Digital Age

We look forward to receiving your proposals.

Conference Chairs

Jing Zhang, Clark University, USA

Yu-Che Chen, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA

Tomasz Janowski, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland

Conference Program (PC) Chairs

Jooho Lee, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA

Flavia Bernardini, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil

Taehee Kim, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, South Korea

Reflections from Julie Ricard (2025 dg.o Travel Grant Awardee, Ph.D. Student at Fundação Getulio Vargas / São Paulo)

Paula Hauser — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 17:41:01 +0000

The DG.O conference in Porto Alegre was my first time at DGO, which came with high expectations. From the Welcome Reception at the Museum, I was excited to see such a multidisciplinary and diverse group of researchers from all over the world. I had the opportunity to attend diverse sessions, focusing on topics ranging from digital literacy (especially when it comes to understanding government data) to unpacking strategies for rolling out e-government services without fostering inequalities. In several sessions, this thread kept coming up: how to make sure these advances don’t deepen inequalities, but instead help reduce them.

I presented my work in a track focused on social media and government, where we looked at the intersection of digital platforms, public debate and policy. My research on anti-vaccine communities in Brazil added to this conversation by showing how certain sociopolitical and informational conditions create fertile ground for disinformation to spread. It was very interesting to see how this connected with other studies, including the one that won Best Research Paper, on citizen-based monitoring in South Africa, each looking at different contexts but wrestling with similar questions about trust, participation, and impact.

The keynotes tied it all together. The idea of “government as a platform” felt particularly relevant, with Brazil’s gov.br as a living example of how this plays out. And Professor Diniz’s talk on “Data, Territories and Public Policies” was a great way to ground the debate. In particular, his example of “social currencies” programs in Brazil showed how data and territorial specificities intersect in very tangible, human ways.

What struck me most about DGO was its balance: rigorous, advanced research that never lost sight of its policy relevance. You walk out of a session thinking not just “that was interesting,” but “this could change something in practice.” That’s the kind of academic space we need more of.

Julie Ricard

Reflections from Suellen Lages (2025 dg.o Travel Grant Awardee, Ph.D. Student at IFMT – Campus Cuiabá )

Paula Hauser — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 11:21:34 +0000

“Participating in the 2025 edition of the DGO conference was a truly enriching and unforgettable experience for me. I am an undergraduate student from Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, currently studying Internet Systems at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso (IFMT). I was fortunate to attend the event alongside my professor and research advisor, who has supported and guided me throughout the development of our project.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to present the paper Integrating an Online Management System into Technical Schools: A Step Toward Digital Transformation, which I co-authored with colleagues who, unfortunately, were not able to attend the event in person. Representing them and our collective work at such a prestigious international event was a source of great pride and personal growth.
The conference days were intense and filled with learning. As a non-native English speaker, presenting and interacting in a second language was a challenge I embraced with enthusiasm. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to share my research with a broader, global audience. Beyond language, the cultural diversity of the attendees made the event even more special. I was able to meet researchers, students, and professionals from various countries, each bringing unique insights and experiences. These exchanges added valuable perspectives to my understanding of digital government and its current developments around the world.
The themes discussed at DGO aligned perfectly with my interests in public digital transformation. I learned about innovative initiatives in areas such as open data, artificial intelligence, citizen participation, and digital service delivery — all highly relevant to the Brazilian context and to the work we are striving to implement in our own institutions.
Beyond the academic and cultural aspects, one of the most rewarding parts of the conference was the connections I made. During the sessions, coffee breaks, and social events, I had the chance to talk to students and researchers from different parts of the world, many of whom were also attending DGO for the first time. These interactions naturally led to friendships, professional networking, and even discussions about possible future collaborations. It was encouraging to find a welcoming community that is genuinely interested in sharing knowledge and supporting one another’s academic journeys. These connections made the experience feel even more meaningful and reminded me of the importance of building bridges across institutions, countries, and cultures.
Another important aspect of this experience was visiting the city of Porto Alegre. Until then, I had never had the chance to visit this part of Brazil. Attending the conference gave me the opportunity not only to explore an important Brazilian city, but also to connect more deeply with my own country’s diversity. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how the city, the people, and the local culture contributed to making this journey even more memorable.
For me, the experience of presenting at DGO went far beyond standing in front of an audience and giving a talk. It was a moment of recognition, connection, and exchange. The feedback I received and the conversations that followed were incredibly valuable and will help guide the next steps of our project and research.
In short, participating in DGO was a milestone in my academic path. It inspired me to continue studying, researching, and contributing to science. I am deeply thankful to the DGO community for creating such an inclusive and welcoming space for dialogue and learning, and for encouraging young researchers like me to take part in these global conversations.”

Reflections from Giliard Godoi (2025 dg.o Travel Grant Awardee, Ph.D. Student in University of São Paulo, Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics)

Paula Hauser — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:51:36 +0000

“Participating in the 26th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (DGO 2025) for the first time was truly a memorable experience. The event, held in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, felt even more special as it marked the first edition of the conference hosted in South America.
When we talk about recent technological advances, it’s common to experience mixed feelings. On one hand, there is excitement over new possibilities; on the other, concerns about risks and potential negative impacts. Social media is a clear example: it connects distant people but has also become fertile ground for the spread of misinformation.
The same applies to Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies. These AI systems, capable of mimicking human writing and reasoning or generating impressive images, expand our creativity but also amplify the misinformation problem, raising questions about our ability to distinguish what is real from what is artificially created.
In this context of both excitement and concern, DGO 2025 stood out as an essential space for dialogue. Bringing together researchers, students, public officials, and professionals from various fields, the event fostered reflections on how to use emerging technologies for the benefit of society, with a focus on justice, equity, and transparency.
Technologies, by themselves, are neither good nor bad. They are tools whose impact depends on the choices we make—as individuals and as a society. Governments can employ these tools for social good, whether by offering better services to citizens, streamlining internal processes, preventing and responding to climate disasters, or assisting people in critical situations.
That’s why conferences like DGO are so relevant. They allow us to meet people from different countries who share a common goal: using technology for the collective good. Moreover, they help us realize that many challenges we face locally also appear in other parts of the world, opening space for the exchange of experiences and solutions.
While technology plays a central role in our lives, attending an in-person event reinforces the importance of human connection. Simple gestures of kindness and empathy—like a handshake or a shy “Hi, how are you? Where are you from?”—create bonds that digital channels can complement but never fully replace.
Another aspect that stood out to me was the interdisciplinarity of DGO. With a background in computer science, I had the opportunity to exchange experiences with sociologists, economists, and public managers, which broadened my perspective on the social use of technology.
In my specific case, I presented a paper on the classification of legal documents, discussing how improvements in text preprocessing stages can impact the quality of thematic classification. However, conversations with other participants led me to reflect beyond the computational aspect: how the Judiciary uses these tools to automate and speed up its processes and what the implications are when an automatic classification gets it wrong.
The DGO 2025 program was intense. On the very first day, I attended workshops addressing topics like accessibility, equity, and data security in the ‘Cadastro Único’—a government database that gathers information about families benefiting from Brazil’s social programs. During group activities, we discussed challenges around interoperability and the safe use of this data in public policy formulation. Other groups enriched the discussion with equally important perspectives.
In the afternoon, I joined another workshop on creating a training program for Smart Cities and resilient cities. It was inspiring to see how different perspectives came together to build a collective proposal. Even though I’m usually shy, I felt the need to contribute with my ideas.
The plenary sessions were also insightful. We heard from representatives of the Brazilian federal government, who spoke about initiatives for digitizing public services and integrating data. We also learned about the Chilean government’s experiences in providing digital services and the Rio Grande do Sul state government’s use of technology to accelerate financial aid for victims of recent floods.
Beyond the lectures and paper presentations, the informal conversations during coffee breaks and lunches led to unexpected and valuable dialogues. These casual encounters put us in contact with experienced researchers, graduate students, and even those just starting their academic journey. And the exchange of ideas was valuable with each one of them.
It was a week of intense learning, enriching exchanges, and professional growth. I leave DGO 2025 with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for future projects and, hopefully, with the motivation to make my own contribution to social good.”

Reflections from Ramon Chaves (2025 dg.o Travel Grant Awardee, Ph.D. Student at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Programa de Pós Graduação de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computação)

Paula Hauser — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:50:18 +0000

“Resilience, Inclusion, and Innovation: Latin America’s Pillars at DG.O 2025″
The DG.O 2025 Conference event in Porto Alegre marks a significant milestone. It stands out globally as the first such gathering in the Global South, featuring keynotes and panels on major Latin American initiatives, including high-impact projects from Brazil, Chile, and beyond. Locally, it highlights urban governance achievements: Porto Alegre gained international recognition for its resilience following the late-2024 floods and its pioneering urban administration, most notably the participatory budgeting process initiated in the 1980s, which became a global benchmark for civic engagement well before digital technologies became widespread.
In this event, the Digital Government Society has expanded its efforts toward greater inclusion by offering travel grants to researchers from medium and low HDI countries. One of the recipients this year is Ramon Chaves, a PhD student in the Systems and Computer Engineering Program at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Chaves succeeded in having two papers accepted at the conference.
The first paper by Chaves presents a comprehensive literature review and taxonomy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in the public sector. It maps how innovation and collaboration manifest across different government functions. The taxonomy serves as a helpful framework for future research. According to his review, AI in the public sector is primarily used for predictive analytics, data visualization, and automating repetitive tasks, especially in economic affairs, health, and public security. Most AI implementations address administrative or routine processes. Chaves argues that there is substantial opportunity for broader AI adoption with transformative and disruptive public management innovations, which could significantly enhance service delivery and benefit society.
The second paper explores the case of Lemobs, a Brazilian GovTech startup, and its participation in public technology procurement processes, including those by Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) – (the Federal Court of Accounts), Correios (Brazilian state-owned postal service), and Copasa (Brazilian sanitation company), using its most relevant product, Sigelu. The lessons learned in this work highlight that project proposals perform best when scope and budget are set in stone, and blurred requirements make your product less competitive. Success also depends on multidisciplinary teams with demonstrable achievements and solutions that blend technological readiness with fresh ideas tailored to specific public-sector needs. Pushing a product to the technological frontier is desirable, but it pays dividends only when it addresses concrete government challenges. Straightforward, engaging storytelling, delivered through polished video demos and succinct slide decks helps evaluators instantly grasp a proposal’s practical value.
The last paper was awarded Best Paper in the new “Digital Government Ecosystem Cases: Collaboration for Enhancing Transformative Innovation and Overcoming Challenges” track, underscoring its impact on the field.
Choosing Porto Alegre as the host city for DG.O 2025 propelled Latin America to the forefront of digital-government innovation, highlighting resilient cities, a longstanding legacy of participatory urban governance, and a strong commitment to academic inclusion. Ramon Chaves’s award-winning research emphasizes how AI and Govtechs like Lemobs redefine public-sector innovation while illustrating the Digital Government Society’s concrete support for early-career scholars.”

Reflections from Sulemana Bankuoru Egala (Dg.o 2025 Travel Grant Awardee Lecturer at SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana)

Paula Hauser — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:41:13 +0000

The 26th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o 2025), held from June 9–12, 2025, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, served as a significant platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers focused on the future of digital governance. The conference’s theme, “Digital Government Fostering Social Cohesion for Reducing Inequalities,” highlighted the critical role of digital governance in promoting social ties, accountable democracy, and equity. It emphasized the necessity for policies that ensure universal access to digital tools, reliable internet, and digital literacy, recognizing the internet as a vital resource for accessing rights and addressing inequalities.

It was an honour to be one of a proud participant featuring in one of the many presentations in a diverse range of topics. I was full of excitement to share insights about my accepted paper titled “Unleashing Public Sector Innovation: Exploring the Impact of Big Data Analytics and Value-Driven Capabilities on Digital Governance”. This research was driven by the increasing pressure on public sector organizations globally to innovate and tackle complex societal challenges. Big Data Analytics (BDA) and value-driven capabilities have emerged as transformative forces, enhancing decision-making, transparency, and citizen engagement. My paper focused on how these elements can be utilized to foster innovation within public sector institutions in Ghana, examining the relationship between technological capabilities, organizational support, and the maturity of digital governance frameworks.

Key findings from the research indicated that technical infrastructure, analytical skills, and organizational processes are vital for driving innovation. Organizations with mature digital governance structures are better equipped to leverage BDA for transformative outcomes. Furthermore, aligning data initiatives with ethical and societal values is crucial for translating insights into public value, emphasizing the importance of responsible data use and stakeholder engagement in fostering sustainable innovations in the public sector. Additionally, task complexities and data quality significantly impact BDA effectiveness, requiring tailored technology adoption, supportive leadership, and a culture of continuous learning for successful digital transformation.

The dg.o 2025 conference is an interdisciplinary event that brings together researchers from various fields to exchange innovative ideas and best practices. It focuses on empowering underserved communities, addressing digital divides, and promoting citizen engagement.
It featured tracks on artificial intelligence, data science, civic engagement, and technology innovation, fostering dialogue and collaboration. Presentations emphasize the importance of building loyalty, solidarity, and mutual support to strengthen trust and social capital, ultimately reducing social conflicts and inequalities through collaborative governance.
Overall, dg.o 2025 exemplified the transformative potential of digital government in fostering social cohesion and reducing inequalities. My paper contributed to this mission by demonstrating how BDA and value-driven capabilities can drive public sector innovation. As digital governance evolves, it is crucial for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to collaborate, ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for equity, transparency, and meaningful change. I am also thankful to the dg.o board for the grant that supported my travel and accommodation from Ghana to the conference, reflecting the core values of dg.o in combating inequalities and promoting social cohesion through digital governance.