Digital Discretion: Unpacking Human and Technological Agency in Automated Decision Making in Sweden’s Social Services
Digital Discretion: Unpacking Human and Technological Agency in Automated Decision Making in Sweden’s Social Services
复制标题
数字自由裁量权：瑞典社会服务自动化决策中的人力和技术机构
DOI：
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发表时间：
2020
影响因子：
4.1
通讯作者：
H. Henriksen
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
A. Ranerup;H. Henriksen
将机器人流程自动化（RPA）引入公共部门已经改变了公务员的日常生活和实践。公共部门的核心做法之一是自由裁量权。向数字化裁量权模式的转变需要对新形势的理解。本文介绍了一个实证案例，其中由 RPA 驱动的自动化决策已在瑞典的社会服务中实施。它重点关注 RPA 在社会服务中的理想价值和效果。通过对人和技术的详细分析来捕获上下文、任务和活动。本研究发现，社会服务数字化对公务员的自由裁量行为产生积极影响，主要体现在道德、民主和专业价值观方面。长期影响以及对公平统一决策的影响也值得未来研究。此外，文章发现，人类与技术的混合行动者重新定义了社会援助实践。由于技术和理论的复杂性，需要对自动化决策过程进行简化。
The introduction of robotic process automation (RPA) into the public sector has changed civil servants’ daily life and practices. One of these central practices in the public sector is discretion. The shift to a digital mode of discretion calls for an understanding of the new situation. This article presents an empirical case where automated decision making driven by RPA has been implemented in social services in Sweden. It focuses on the aspirational values and effects of the RPA in social services. Context, task, and activities are captured by a detailed analysis of humans and technology. This research finds that digitalization in social services has a positive effect on civil servants’ discretionary practices mainly in terms of their ethical, democratic, and professional values. The long-term effects and the influence on fair and uniform decision making also merit future research. In addition, the article finds that a human–technology hybrid actor redefines social assistance practices. Simplifications are needed to unpack the automated decision-making process because of the technological and theoretical complexities.