Knowledge Base

This trend deals with the use of algorithms in policy and decision making. First, there is the trend of algorithmic regulation. Algorithmic regulation means that regulatory decision making is delegated to algorithms. The algorithms give the instructions of what should be done to achieve a desired outcome. [1]
The trend of using algorithms in governance and an increasing reliance of public decision making on algorithms is sometimes also called algocracy. [2]

The pervasive use of information and communication technologies results in an increasing interdependency between social and technical systems. Socio-Technical Systems are an approach to complex organisational work design that recognises the Human-Machine-Interaction. Due to this interdependence, it is not possible to consider social systems and the technical systems independently of each other. This connection allows both subsystems to benefit from each other. [1][2]

Nudge or Nudging in governmental context can be seen as a concept of libertarian paternalism, which is about improving decision making. Nudging comes from the behavioural economics and the basic assumption is that people are not able to make the right decisions. Therefore, the behaviour of individuals should be influenced in a predictable way. Experts decide what is the best possible decision and try to steer the people into this direction. The people still have the option to choose an alternative, which makes this concept different to classical paternalism. [1]

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) can be seen as the smartification of everyday life. It consists of concepts, methods, electronic systems, products and services, which transparently assist people. Most of these systems are designed to help elderly and disabled persons mastering everyday life until old age and to support a self-determined living. Concrete examples for AAL systems are the monitoring of the state of health and automatic emergency calls. This holds the potential of increased quality of life and significant economic savings.

A new computing model – edge computing – is currently evolving, which involves extending data processing to the edge of a network in addition to computing in a cloud or a central data centre. [1]

Scenario building is an analytical method to make forecasts. Alternative scenarios of the future can be described as well as the different ways that lead to these scenarios. You can differ best case, worst case and trend scenarios. Scenarios illustrate possible futures in connection with causal processes with the aim of sensitising for possible future events. In Contrast to forecasts or predictions, scenarios allow uncertainties and should be seen as an estimation for future developments in preparation for decision-making, which supports strategic planning considerations. [1][2]

Until now, it has usually been the case that documents have to be submitted in every authority, i.e. it is always the same information that is passed on to the authorities. This procedure is paper-based and involves a great deal of effort.

In times of demographic change and a shortage of skilled workers, it is particularly difficult to find suitable personnel – this also applies to the public sector. Talent Management is of strategic relevance, refers to the anticipation of required human capital for an organization and aims to get “the right person in the right job at the right time”[1]. With the help of talent management, competitive advantages and long-term organisational success can be promoted.

The goal of IT consolidation is to simplify and modernise the IT infrastructure in order to increase IT security, data protection and IT controllability. For example, central IT service centers with a strong focus on the service aspect are being set up and modern infrastructure platforms are being shared. The IT consolidation creates a basis for successful digitization. [1][2]

The DCAT Application Profile for data portals (DCAT-AP) is a specification based on the Data Catalogue vocabulary (DCAT) for describing public sector datasets in Europe. Its basic use case is to enable cross-data portal search (primary Open Data Portals) for data sets and make public sector data better searchable across borders and sectors. This can be achieved by the exchange of descriptions of datasets among data portals.