Research: Briefings and Workshops

In its first phases Teaching Public Service in the Digital Age was heavily focused on teaching. We developed competencies, published a free open access syllabus, and continue to hold regular workshops and masterclasses that are aimed at supporting educators both within universities and governments (sign up here if you want to get invitations to those).

Excellent teaching, however, must be underpinned by excellent research. Which is why we have now launched TPSDA’s research workstream.

Our Research Briefing - the pressing questions that need answers

On 2nd November 2021 we published our first research briefing. The main purpose of this briefing is to share our collective view of the most important research questions we need to answer to strengthen governments’ practices in a digital age.

We are very keen to talk to researchers and government practioners who feel strongly about the questions and issues raised, as it is only through international collaboration that we will be able to fill some of the evidence gaps that hold our governments back. Please get in touch here.

What are examples of TPSDA’s priority research questions?

Research Stream 1 - In what circumstances do accepted best practices in digital era governance successfully bring about intended change in government? In what circumstances do these best practices fail to achieve public value, or worse, generate harm?

Research Stream 2 - What conditions support effective implementation of best practice in digital era governance, and how can public sector organizations generate these conditions?

Research Stream 3 - How can training and education advance digital transformation efforts in today’s governments?

For much more detail, please see our research briefing here.

Research workshops

In 2022 we hosted a series of research workshops for researchers whose work touches on the issues contained within the TPSDA briefing. In 2024 we will launch a second series of research workshop.

The research workshops provide us a venue to bring together researchers interested in these questions and others that aim to improve our understanding of digital era government.