This edited volume highlights the latest advances in and findings from research on service automation in public sector organizations. The contributing authors use a mix of social and technological approaches to increase readers' understanding of public service automation. The respective chapters discuss the automation of services in public organizations from a conceptual standpoint, present empirical examples of automation applications in public organizations, and consider the implementation-related challenges that can arise. The book's overall goal is to aid and inspire researchers and practitioners to expand their knowledge of service automation in public organizations, while also providing a foundation for policy development and future research. Following a brief introductory chapter, the book addresses major gaps in our current understanding of service automation in public organizations, and provides suggestions for future research. Moreover, it argues that there is a continued need to observe and learn from empirical examples, and a need for more critical studies on the social and societal consequences of increased service automation in public organizations.

This book explores how novel digital services, including e-services, digital platforms and mobile apps, are increasingly being innovated through open processes. It investigates how and why organizations invite external developers to participate in their innovation, often catalyzed by contests and the provision of open data, with the aim of designing digital services that go beyond the capability of the organizations themselves. Taking a contest driven approach to innovation, the book provides an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the area of open digital innovation. It offers an analysis of key scientific principles underlying open innovation and based on these provides practical tools for improving the digital innovation process. Furthermore, the book introduces instruments for managing innovation contests, in particular for overcoming innovation barriers and for harnessing the power of motivating factors. It serves as a text for graduate and undergraduate courses in digital innovation and entrepreneurship, but is also a valuable resource for managers as well as policy makers in the field of open digital innovation.

This edited volume highlights the latest advances in and findings from research on service automation in public sector organizations. The contributing authors use a mix of social and technological approaches to increase readers’ understanding of public service automation. The respective chapters discuss the automation of services in public organizations from a conceptual standpoint, present empirical examples of automation applications in public organizations, and consider the implementation-related challenges that can arise. The book’s overall goal is to aid and inspire researchers and practitioners to expand their knowledge of service automation in public organizations, while also providing a foundation for policy development and future research. Following a brief introductory chapter, the book addresses major gaps in our current understanding of service automation in public organizations, and provides suggestions for future research. Moreover, it argues that there is a continued need to observe and learn from empirical examples, and a need for more critical studies on the social and societal consequences of increased service automation in public organizations.

This book explores how novel digital services, including e-services, digital platforms and mobile apps, are increasingly being innovated through open processes. It investigates how and why organizations invite external developers to participate in their innovation, often catalyzed by contests and the provision of open data, with the aim of designing digital services that go beyond the capability of the organizations themselves. Taking a contest driven approach to innovation, the book provides an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the area of open digital innovation. It offers an analysis of key scientific principles underlying open innovation and based on these provides practical tools for improving the digital innovation process. Furthermore, the book introduces instruments for managing innovation contests, in particular for overcoming innovation barriers and for harnessing the power of motivating factors. It serves as a text for graduate and undergraduate courses in digital innovation and entrepreneurship, but is also a valuable resource for managers as well as policy makers in the field of open digital innovation.