The Governance of Big Data: Perspectives and Issues

29 Pages Posted: 1 Jun 2013

See all articles by Alberto Asquer

Alberto Asquer

University of London, SOAS, Department of Financial and Management Studies; Universita di Cagliari - Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche ed Aziendali

Date Written: May 31, 2013

Abstract

Part of governance theory highlights that, within any policy domain or sub-system, the institutional structure plays a major role in shaping how policy issues are considered, actors interact, and outcomes are evaluated. This “modernist theory of governance” stands in contrast with another, “interpretive” approach, for which governance theory should provide explanations that refer to the reasons on which people act, especially by looking at actors' beliefs, preferences, and meanings. This paper investigates the formation of ideas about the role of a source of technological change and its implications for governance practices and regime. The study focuses on the emergence of Big Data and their expected role in public administration. Using Q-methodology, the analysis shows the formation of three viewpoints about Big Data and how public administration should deal with them. Findings of this study allow to draw some qualifications around the relationship between ideas and institutions for explaining governance stability and change.

Keywords: Governance theory, governance change, Big Data, Q-methodology, public administration

Suggested Citation

Asquer, Alberto, The Governance of Big Data: Perspectives and Issues (May 31, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2272608 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2272608

Alberto Asquer (Contact Author)

University of London, SOAS, Department of Financial and Management Studies ( email )

Thornhaugh Street
London, WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom

Universita di Cagliari - Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche ed Aziendali ( email )

Viale Fra Ignazio 17
Cagliari, 09123
Italy

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
382
Abstract Views
2,407
Rank
142,299
PlumX Metrics