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Value positions in the implementation of automated decision-making in social assistance

Ranerup, Agneta and Svensson, Lupita LU (2022) In Nordic Social Work Research
Abstract
Automated decision-making (ADM) has been introduced into the public sector in many countries, including for decisions made regarding the provision of economic support to people in need. This article analyses the value positions (the ‘desired intentions’) for using ADM to determine such decisions in four Swedish municipalities. The value positions related to efficiency of the application process, its result and the improved service that ensues, including more time for helping people to become self-supporting. The core issue of helping people in need and the mundanisation of activities when discussed as ‘services’ is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, the value position of professionalism relates to providing well-designed technology to... (More)
Automated decision-making (ADM) has been introduced into the public sector in many countries, including for decisions made regarding the provision of economic support to people in need. This article analyses the value positions (the ‘desired intentions’) for using ADM to determine such decisions in four Swedish municipalities. The value positions related to efficiency of the application process, its result and the improved service that ensues, including more time for helping people to become self-supporting. The core issue of helping people in need and the mundanisation of activities when discussed as ‘services’ is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, the value position of professionalism relates to providing well-designed technology to preserve the quality of decisions. The results also showed differences between municipalities regarding aspects of professionalism that influence the (digital and otherwise) discretion of caseworkers: user participation in design, length of experiences and so on. Divergences between instances of value positions were detected, such as the need to increase the use of information and communications technology as a part of service values, whereas a lack of trust in citizens may exist among caseworkers. Through the framework of value positions, this article contributes to the discourse on the use of theory in social work research. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Nordic Social Work Research
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85129225501
ISSN
2156-857X
DOI
10.1080/2156857X.2022.2062040
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1e3bed21-ba93-45be-8b8d-709925b83147
date added to LUP
2022-04-08 11:27:33
date last changed
2023-02-06 11:35:30
@article{1e3bed21-ba93-45be-8b8d-709925b83147,
  abstract     = {{Automated decision-making (ADM) has been introduced into the public sector in many countries, including for decisions made regarding the provision of economic support to people in need. This article analyses the value positions (the ‘desired intentions’) for using ADM to determine such decisions in four Swedish municipalities. The value positions related to efficiency of the application process, its result and the improved service that ensues, including more time for helping people to become self-supporting. The core issue of helping people in need and the mundanisation of activities when discussed as ‘services’ is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, the value position of professionalism relates to providing well-designed technology to preserve the quality of decisions. The results also showed differences between municipalities regarding aspects of professionalism that influence the (digital and otherwise) discretion of caseworkers: user participation in design, length of experiences and so on. Divergences between instances of value positions were detected, such as the need to increase the use of information and communications technology as a part of service values, whereas a lack of trust in citizens may exist among caseworkers. Through the framework of value positions, this article contributes to the discourse on the use of theory in social work research.}},
  author       = {{Ranerup, Agneta and Svensson, Lupita}},
  issn         = {{2156-857X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Nordic Social Work Research}},
  title        = {{Value positions in the implementation of automated decision-making in social assistance}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2022.2062040}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/2156857X.2022.2062040}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}