Institutional isomorphism, policy networks, and the analytical depreciation of measurement indicators: The case of the EU e-government benchmarking. Codagnone, C., Misuraca, G., Savoldelli, A., & Lupiañez-Villanueva, F. Telecommunications Policy.
Institutional isomorphism, policy networks, and the analytical depreciation of measurement indicators: The case of the EU e-government benchmarking [link]Paper  doi  abstract   bibtex   
This article discusses the socio-political dimension of measurement in the context of benchmarking e-government within the European Union׳s Open Method of Coordination. It provides empirical evidence of how this has resulted in institutional isomorphism within the self-referential policy network community involved in the benchmarking process. It argues that the policy prominence retained by supply-side benchmarking of e-government has probably indirectly limited efforts made to measure and evaluate more tangible impacts. High scores in EU benchmarking have contributed to increasing the institutionally-perceived quality but not necessarily the real quality and utility of e-government services. The article concludes by outlining implications for policy and practical recommendations for filling the gaps identified in measurement and evaluation of e-government. It proposes a more comprehensive policy benchmarking framework, which aims to ensure a gradual improvement in measurement activities with indicators that reflect and follow the pace of change, align measurement activities to evaluation needs and, eventually, reduce measurement error.
@article{codagnone_institutional_????,
	title = {Institutional isomorphism, policy networks, and the analytical depreciation of measurement indicators: {The} case of the {EU} e-government benchmarking},
	issn = {0308-5961},
	shorttitle = {Institutional isomorphism, policy networks, and the analytical depreciation of measurement indicators},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596115000075},
	doi = {10.1016/j.telpol.2015.01.005},
	abstract = {This article discusses the socio-political dimension of measurement in the context of benchmarking e-government within the European Union׳s Open Method of Coordination. It provides empirical evidence of how this has resulted in institutional isomorphism within the self-referential policy network community involved in the benchmarking process. It argues that the policy prominence retained by supply-side benchmarking of e-government has probably indirectly limited efforts made to measure and evaluate more tangible impacts. High scores in EU benchmarking have contributed to increasing the institutionally-perceived quality but not necessarily the real quality and utility of e-government services. The article concludes by outlining implications for policy and practical recommendations for filling the gaps identified in measurement and evaluation of e-government. It proposes a more comprehensive policy benchmarking framework, which aims to ensure a gradual improvement in measurement activities with indicators that reflect and follow the pace of change, align measurement activities to evaluation needs and, eventually, reduce measurement error.},
	urldate = {2015-02-27},
	journal = {Telecommunications Policy},
	author = {Codagnone, Cristiano and Misuraca, Gianluca and Savoldelli, Alberto and Lupiañez-Villanueva, Francisco},
	keywords = {Benchmarking, e-Government, European Union, Institutional isomorphism, open method of coordination, policy networks},
	file = {ScienceDirect Full Text PDF:files/50957/Codagnone et al. - Institutional isomorphism, policy networks, and th.pdf:application/pdf;ScienceDirect Snapshot:files/50958/S0308596115000075.html:text/html}
}

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