From birth certificates and construction permits to job applications and meeting notes—administrative documents are central to organizing life in bureaucratic societies. They are integral to how citizens and public sector organizations interact. And not least are they a central part of how work gets done and is accounted for in public sector organizations. Records are meant to support and document how decisions are made, foster transparency, and provide a resource for historical preservation. Recordkeeping is a form of cooperative work that is distributed within and across organizations: It involves a variety of people and professions, artefacts, and infrastructures.
Digitalization is not a new phenomenon in this domain. In Norwegian public administration, records are largely “born digital” nowadays, and have been for many years. More recently, however, we have seen new policies and ambitions around data-driven public administration and the use of AI in the public sector. These developments pose important questions around the changing nature of records and recordkeeping in public administration. The goal of this master’s project is to improve our understanding of the relation between digitalization, public sector records, and the changing nature of recordkeeping work practices.
Suggested themes
Potential themes to explore include, but are not limited to:
- Recordkeeping and records management as a form of data work
- The automation of recordkeeping practices
- The integration of AI functionalities in recordkeeping systems
- The use of generative AI for creating documents and its implications for recordkeeping
- The role of records managers, archivists, and/or case workers, including questions around expertise and skill
- Digitalization projects around public administration recordkeeping
- Designing for and supporting public sector employees’ work with records
- Tensions between tradition and innovation in recordkeeping work
Preferred methods
Students are expected to identify and establish access to an empirical setting for a qualitative study. Relevant methods may include interviews, observations, document analysis, and, where feasible, ethnographic approaches. Research settings in Norway can, for instance, include: public sector organizations, such as (county) municipalities, NAV, Skatteetaten, or universities; organizations that support public sector digitalization, such as Digitaliseringsdirektoratet or KS; or private sector vendors of recordkeeping systems. Research settings abroad may also be considered. Students may make use of their own network. The supervisor can also assist in identifying a relevant case based on his existing contacts.
Who is this project for?
The project can accommodate up to 2 students, working individually or as a team. It is relevant for DESIGN and PROSA students who would like to engage with qualitative and ethnographic methods. The project may also be relevant for DIGHEL students, depending on the case selection and study focus.
Feel free to contact Steffen Hornemann (main supervisor) to discuss your interests or any questions.