Karin Axelsson

• Professor in Information Systems
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Linköping University

Smart cities have been studied for many years, but smart homes and the citizens' actual living in these smart homes are less researched. We argue that for digital government research, and for governments to be successful in smart city development in practice, it is necessary not only to understand living on a societal level, but also living aspects...

In this paper, we present three current research projects that explore how digital transformation can be a positive force to help address the causes and mitigate the consequences of climate change. Drawing on the Scandinavian approach to information systems (IS), we advocate a stakeholder-centric approach that can help inform the climate change dis...

This reflection note is part of the special section focused on smart cities. The note puts contemporary smart city research into a societal context and elaborates on the role of a Scandinavian perspective in this domain. The authors reflect upon how Information Systems Research can contribute to smart city research and what additional value a Scand...

User participation is seen as an important enabler for successful public e-service development. However, at the same time development of public e-services is still often characterised by an internal government perspective with little consideration for external users' perspectives. This paper challenges the overly positive attitude that is surroundi...

Many of today's city planning projects aim to realize smart city ambitions. In order to plan and build a smart city district, where ICT is integrated in critical infrastructure and used to control and govern city functions in innovative ways, new ways of working in city planning are needed. The purpose of this article is to develop a framework that...

Working with an integrated management system (IMS) is a challenging task. In public organizations, the formalization of an IMS including the communication of control mechanisms, rules, goals and culture are crucial. Several types of carriers are used in order to communicate the content in an IMS – both human actors and artefacts. An artefact studie...

For the last decade e-government research has underlined the importance of an external user perspective in public e-service development and there have been numerous attempts to provide guidance and directions for government agencies in this matter. Individual research studies show little progress in this matter, but a more generalisable picture of...

E-services hold the potential to innovate how the public sector operates, and to increase the transparency of public services. Numerous research initiatives have illustrated the innovation power of eservices; with new technology and new solutions to existing problems. Research on this topic also emphasizes that in order for public e-services to rea...

This paper explores how policy documents carry and institutionalize smart city ideas from high policy level to concrete policy level in an urban development context. We analyze the national urban development vision for Sweden and documents in a local urban development project in a Swedish city, in order to explore what kind of roles and expectation...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the concept of action by addressing actions and roles in the practice of action research, illustrated by dilemmas in an action research project on information systems development in public sector. The main ambition with action research is being able to solve organisational problems through interv...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse and understand the contemporary management of electronic identification (e-ID) development to: identify and formulate challenges and reflect upon the use of a combination of perspectives. To generate knowledge on this issue, we investigate e-ID development in Sweden from: an e-government systems dev...

E-service development has grown to become a daily practice in most public organizations as a means for realizing digital agendas and e-government initiatives on different levels (local, regional, national and transnational governmental levels). Public e-service development is often an inter-organizational (IO) effort with multiple actors and organi...

This paper reports from a pilot study conducted in an ongoing research project focusing on how users and their needs are being part of the development of smart grid services. The project aims to explore how development and use of services related to smart grids in homes might affect practices involving electricity consumption. The empirical materia...

In order to deliver services to citizens, public sector agencies of today offer various types of channels for interaction. In this article we aim to develop an understanding of the reciprocal relation between multi-channel services and work practice. By showing how actors at different organizational levels in an agency differ in their interpretatio...

In this paper, we approach the field of critical success factors (CSF) by analyzing a successful case of IT implementation within the public health sector. The purpose of the paper is to gain further understanding of if and how well CSFs can explain a successful case. The main conclusion drawn is that even though the studied organization shows sign...

ICT potentially plays an important part in achieving sustainable urban development. Subsequently, ICT could be expected to have a central role in the general discourse of urban development, and in specific development projects, both as a means in the planning process itself and as an end product, i.e. smart city solutions. By exploring a case study...

To gain better understanding of the development, implementation and use of information technology (IT), many scholars in the field of information systems (IS) use structuration theory (ST). However, ST is, so far, more seldom applied to, and reflected upon, in studies of public sector IS to account for (unexpected) outcomes of IT development and im...

Purpose – This article compares inter-organizational (IO) interaction and inter-organizational information systems (IOS) to support IO interaction in public and private sectors. The purpose of the article is to explore and discuss differences and similarities between e-government and e-business focusing IOS and interaction. This is done in order to...

In order to balance between citizen and agency aspects’ importance and visibility in public e-service development, the question how to involve different stakeholders is often raised. However, identifying and analyzing several internal as well as external stakeholders in relation to e-government development raises some ethical questions: Who should...

In this article we discuss in what ways an e-government project can give both expected and unexpected effects for agency employees and their working tasks. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the fact that, besides the aim to increase agency efficiency and citizen benefit, e-government implementation might also change the salience of invol...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the consequences of citizens' increased use of public e‐services for agency employees' work situation. Design/methodology/approach – In order to accomplish the purpose of the paper the authors focus on the way in which the increased use of public e‐services also implies internal process and routine...

This paper investigates the management of developing electronic identification (e-ID) within a public e-service context. e-ID is an important key enabler for secure identification, authentication and digital signing via the Internet and a part of e-service design. As users, and citizens, we become reliant on electronic solutions that give us a cert...

The main goals of e-government are to increase agency efficiency and offer benefits to citizens. These goals have often been addressed as two interplaying outcomes of public e-service development, which are possible to achieve in parallel. This article shows that the two frequently applied stakeholders of e-government (agencies and citizens) are mu...

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the spectrum of interpretations that can be related to the implementation and use of a healthcare information system (HIS). The empirical part of this paper is based on a qualitative case study of a Swedish healthcare provider, called “Alpha”, where a HIS was implemented. By studying how different actors...

This article addresses the development of electronic identification (eID) for public e-services and reports from an empirical study of young Swedish university students' attitudes towards eID. A public e-service at the Swedish Board for Study Support which demanded secure electronic identification was focused. Our findings from three focus groups s...

The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of information systems (IS) maintenance within an IT and organizational setting. We discuss the characteristics of maintenance objects’ focus and content. Our results are based on qualitative case studies. In this paper a case study of a Swedish Bank is used to illustrate our discussion. O...

This paper discusses critical success factors (CSF) and best practice in relation to IT implementation in the health sector. We have studied a University Hospital's implementation of a health information system (HIS) and particularly one clinic which implementation process was described as very successful compared to other units at this hospital. T...

Practice Research has evolved as a fruitful research paradigm in Information Systems (IS). In practice research case studies and other forms of intervention in local practices are central. Such studies require cooperation with practitioners. A researcher’s motives for conducting case studies are primarily to collect and analyze data for research pu...

This study illustrates how students view the role and meaning of learning outcomes. We have con-ducted a focus group with students who attended the course "Enterprise (ERP) systems and organ-izing" within an IS bachelor program in Sweden. Our study shows that students, as a course's main stakeholder group, regard the multi-functionality of learning...

In this paper we focus on lessons learned from developing information systems (IS) higher education in an inter-organizational (IO) network focusing possibilities and challenges. Devel-oping higher education is one area among others where organizing joint efforts in networks are possible. An IO R&D project is described and analyzed in this paper. T...

Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate if, and in that case, how and what the e‐government field can learn from user participation concepts and theories in general information systems (IS) research. It aims to contribute with further understanding of the importance of citizen participation and involvement within the e‐government res...

This paper compares inter-organizational (IO) interaction and inter-organizational information systems (IOS) in public and private sector. The purpose of the paper is to explore differences and similarities between e-government and e-business focusing IOS and interaction. This is done in order to facilitate learning between the two fields. The poin...

This article focuses on core ideas behind an information centric approach concerning stability in databases. We investigate if and how data stability is obtained when an information centric ap-proach is implemented in practice. The results of our two case studies reveal four tactics focusing on actions conducted in order to obtain and maintain stab...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the progress and the success vs failure in e‐government development, based on case studies of two inter‐organizational (IO) e‐service projects. Design/methodology/approach The analysis in the paper is made from an e‐government systems development life cycle perspective...

In this paper we elaborate on a framework, a set of guidelines, for teachers when designing project based courses. The emergent framework presented in this paper will focus on six themes: (1) overall course design, (2) project task, (3) project group, (4) examination, (5) feedback and (6) course evaluation and improvement and is initially grounded...

Several researchers have pointed out that the field of eGovernment suffers from a too short-termed, project oriented, retrospective focus and a naïve technological optimism. Reflexive, critical analysis, cumulative research and altered use of theoretical frames are asked for to increase the practical value of eGovernment research. However, in front...

This paper reports from an action research project where focus groups have been used as an approach for taking citizens’ requirements into account during public e-service development projects. In the paper we use theories from the area of user participation in the information systems (IS) discipline in order to discuss and enhance the specific asp...

The main purpose of the paper is to explore and discuss the influence of product type on customer interaction in electronic commerce. We have conducted two qualitative case studies in distance selling companies to inductively explore how the product characteristics of garments and music-CDs influence customer interaction. We apply a product classif...

This paper questions the idea of data stability. We focus on core ideas behind an information centric strategy concerning stability in databases (created through enterprise-wide data modeling). We investigate if and how data stability is obtained when an information centric strategy is implemented in practice. We claim that, even though there are m...

Fragmentation and isolated development are main problems that hinder successful e-government. This paper has an inter-organisational perspective on challenges in one-stop government. We present a conceptual framework that characterises an inter-organisational relationship and its dimensions. The conceptual framework is used for analysing data from...

This paper adopts a communication perspective on public electronic forms (e-forms). By doing so we define forms as instruments for communication and, thus, also instruments through which citizens perform different communicative actions towards government agencies. As such instruments, the forms might be more or less useful. The purpose of this pape...

This paper focuses deficient understanding of citizens’ needs regarding public e-services. In Sweden e-government efforts are motivated by dual goals of citizen benefit and agencies’ internal efficiency. Rhetorical, this is a persuasive ambition, but in practice it seems to be easier to focus agency efficiency and redesign of business processes and...

The core content of action research (AR) is being able to solve organisational problems through intervention and to contribute to scientific knowledge. The main emphasis when discussing AR has been on the “research part”. In this paper we focus on “action part” of AR in order to generate rigorous research, to solve local problems and to deal with e...

This paper adopts a communication perspective on forms in public e-services. This perspective emphasizes that the main purpose of such forms is to facilitate communication between citizens and government agencies. The form is perceived as a tool for performing communicative actions. A communication analysis (CA) method, originally developed for sys...

In this paper, we describe assessment in seminars where high student activity is encouraged. The aim of our work has been to design assessment events that result in deep learning and high student activity, but still provide the teacher with a reliable basis for justice in examinations. We will discuss a course in electronic commerce where we have b...

In this paper, we describe assessment in seminars where high student activity is encouraged. The aim of our work has been to design assessment events that result in deep learning and high student activity, but still provide the teacher with a reliable basis for justice in examinations. We will discuss a course in electronic commerce where we have b...

In this paper, we describe assessment in seminars where high student activity is encouraged. The aim of our work has been to design assessment events that result in deep learning and high student activity, but still provide the teacher with a reliable basis for justice in examinations. We will discuss a course in electronic commerce where we have b...

This paper focuses upon the complexity of inter-organisational systems (IOS) — on one hand enabling organisations to become successful actors conducting electronic commerce, and on the other hand being organisationally very complex and demanding to develop, implement, and use, since several organisations with differing objectives are involved. Th...

This paper investigates organizational coordination and its relationship to computer-based information systems. As a basis for understanding organizational coordination and information system use, Mintzberg’s well-known set of coordination mechanisms is used as a point of departure in this paper. The set of coordination mechanisms is evaluated by a...

This paper argues for the need to thoroughly understand the issue of symmetry and asymmetry, when analysing business interaction supported by inter-organisational information systems (IOS). Business interaction can be defined as consisting of business communication and exchange of value. Business action theory (BAT) divides business processes into...

This chapter focuses upon the complexity of inter-organisational systems (IOS)—on one hand enabling organisations to become successful actors conducting electronic commerce, and on the other hand being organisationally very complex and demanding to develop, implement, and use, since several organisations with differing objectives are involved. The...

This chapter focuses upon the complexity of inter-organisational systems (IOS)—on one hand enabling organisations to become successful actors conducting electronic commerce, and on the other hand being organisationally very complex and demanding to develop, implement, and use, since several organisations with differing objectives are involved. The...

This paper focuses upon the complexity of inter-organisational systems (IOS) — on one hand enabling organisations to become successful actors conducting electronic commerce, and on the other hand being organisationally very complex and demanding to develop, implement, and use, since several organisations with differing objectives are involved. Th...

In this paper, we argue for the need to thoroughly understand business-to-business (B2B) interaction when designing inter-organisational systems (IOS). This understanding is critical since an IOS both has influence on and is influenced by existing business logic. As a means to reach such understanding we propose a phase model for business interacti...

This paper discusses changes in organisational languages during information systems development (ISD). Five Swedish organisations have conducted large ISD projects following different IS strategies, proposing different principles for ISD and, thus, resulting in different IS architectures. One of the IS strategies is a data-driven strategy which adv...

Today almost all organizations are dependent on information technology. It is therefore of great importance to structure the information systems in a satisfying way. Different strategies for structuring information systems, in order to create an information systems architecture, have been used for several years. This paper discusses an IS-strategy...

This paper describes how a teacher can apply learning outcomes in a syllabus in project-oriented education. We present these learning outcomes in the context of a project-oriented course and give practical examples of how a teacher can apply the examples by coordinating (1) learning outcomes in the syllabus, (2) learning activities in the course, a...

This paper reports findings from case studies conducted in two web-based imaginary organisations. The purpose of the paper is to explore and discuss critical factors that effect quality of interaction between actors as well as interaction between information systems (IS) in web-based imaginary organisations. The motive for this study is to emphasis...

In the project we have worked with the main objective to evaluate, improve and develop new assessment, examination and feedback forms for students working in projects. We have developed capabilities to assess and examine student work in both individual work and group work and to give meaningful, high quality, feedback on students' achieve­ ments. W...

In this paper we analyze a public e-service development project from its initiation to its end and reflect upon the process as well as its results. The purpose of the paper is to develop knowledge about how e-government projects should be managed and performed in order to be successful. We do this by identifying and analyzing important decisions ma...

This paper adopts a communication perspective on (electronic and paper-based) forms in public e-services. This perspective emphasizes that the main purpose of such forms is to facilitate communication between citizens and government agencies. We use a communication analysis method consisting of a set of questions related to three communicative cate...

This paper describes an overall model that can be used by a teacher when working with learning outcomes. The model is presented in the context of a project-oriented course and contains three stages. It describes how a teacher can: (1) create a learning breakdown structure with learning modules; (2) define learning activities including feedback, ass...

Knowledge creation between researchers and practitioners can take place and be arranged in a number of different ways. The arrangements and knowledge creation processes can utilize different theories and models, or be more tied to the studied context, and the participating actors. In this paper we present some reflections of interactive knowledge c...

In this paper, we describe how to manage teacher activities in three simultaneous processes in project-oriented education. We present these processes in the context of a project-oriented course and give examples of how teachers can apply them, both horizontally within a process and vertically in time between the processes. The examples are applied...

Studierektors-/ämnesområdet Systemutveckling (SU), Avdelningen för Informations-system och management, Institutionen för datavetenskap, Linköpings universitet.

This paper addresses the need to describe and visualize theories. The paper follows the principles of Multi-Grounded Theory (MGT), which is a modified (extended) version of the Grounded Theory (GT) approach. An important part in developing a multi-grounded theory is theory modelling. This means describing the theory, which is under construction. Th...

Thesis (doctoral)--Linköping University, 1998.