Digitizing the work environment in public authorities

Several long-term research projects have been implemented over the years, funded by RALF – the Council for Work Life Research, FAS , Nutek and Vinnova in order to improve the digital work environment and increase the usability and accessibility of public eServices . Have these projects had any impact on practice or not?
 
The Swedish Tax Authority, " Sweden's most modern authority , 2012", is often referred to as one of the most eminent authorities when it comes to usability and digitization. The Tax Authority has over the years participated in several major research collaborations. Uppsala University conducted 1994-2004 an extensive action research collaboration on usability and user-centred development in collaboration with the Swedish Tax Authority. KTH and Linköping’s University have also had joint projects with the authority. Is there any correlation whatsoever between the success of the authorities and the research collaboration?
 
The Swedish Board for Student Aid’s (CSN) conducted a comprehensive research cooperation within the framework of the Development Council (Partsrådet) in the program "Go Healthy " during 2005-2010 . However, today CSN has major problems with their eServices and the digital work environment, with the result that students do not get their study loans on time.
 
The project aims to identify the impact that collaborative research with universities and government authorities has had on practice and that helped change and develop the organizations' eGovernment and digital work environment. This with the purpose to understand what type of collaborative research that has had the potential to create sustainable changes and benefits for the public sector.

Project leader and contact person: Jan Gulliksen

This is a VINNOVA project ongoing until August 2014