IRC Seminar, presented by Dr Mona Ashok and Rohit Madan: "AI Adoption and Diffusion in Public Administration: A Systematic Literature Review"

Abstract:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation in public administration is gaining momentum heralded by the hope of a smart government that is personalised, lean, and efficient. However, the use of AI in public administration is riddled with ethical dilemmas of fairness, transparency, privacy, and human rights. We call these AI tensions. The current literature lacks a contextual and processual understanding of AI adoption and diffusion in public administration to be able to explore such tensions. Previous studies have outlined risks, benefits, and challenges with the use of AI in public administration. However, a large gap remains in understanding the interactions between AI tensions and public value creation. Through a systematic literature review grounded in public value management and the resource-based view of the firms, we identify customer-organisational-technological-environmental (COTE) contextual variables as antecedents of AI adoption and absorptive capacity as a determinant of AI diffusion. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that develops a taxonomy of AI tensions. We develop a conceptual model theorising AI tensions have a direct and mediated effect through AI diffusion on public value creation. Furthermore, data governance maturity is identified as a moderator between AI tensions and AI diffusion.

Short Bios on Presenters:

Dr Mona Ashok is a Lecturer in Operations Management at Henley Business School, UK. She has extensive industry experience, having worked at senior management level in global IT and BPO organisations, and Accounting firm. She has worked with customers in Asia, Australia, Europe and Northern America. Mona’s experience in Higher Education includes working with doctoral, post-experienced postgraduate and undergraduate programme members. Her professional and academic projects cover topics such as: process improvement, programme management, knowledge management, financial management, organisational transformation, and management consulting.

Rohit Madan is a PhD student at Henley Business School, University of Reading conducting research on innovation management in public sector environments. Prior to pursuing a doctorate, Rohit has extensive experience in management consulting, project management, and technology deployments in both public and private sector organisations.