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Data science, artificial intelligence and the third wave of digital era governance

This article examines the model of digital era governance (DEG) in the light of the latest-wave of data-driven technologies, such as data science methodologies and artificial intelligence (labelled here DSAI). It identifies four key top-level macro-themes through which digital changes in response to these developments may be investigated. First, the capability to store and analyse large quantities of digital data obviates the need for data 'compression' that characterises Weberian-model bureaucracies, and facili…

By the Truvace desk1 min read1 sourcePeer-reviewedTRV-2026-1327· cite & verify
Data science, artificial intelligence and the third wave of digital era governance
Government policy and regulation in Australia - WMAU ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 by Elliott Bledsoe. CC BY 4.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In brief

Published September 2023 in Public Policy and Administration, the article presents a conceptual framework for a third wave of digital era governance driven by data science and AI. It outlines four shifts: data de-compression, robotic task expansion, vertical functional re-partitioning, and horizontal administrative holism.

The framework matters because it links DSAI capabilities to concrete choices about information regimes, state organisation, outsourcing, and service integration. What remains uncertain is how these possibilities translate into measured administrative performance, as the authors note a long-term research agenda requiring extensive and detailed analysis.

Main points

  1. Article identifies four macro-themes for investigating digital change from DSAI in government.
  2. First theme is data de-compression replacing Weberian data compression due to large-scale storage and analysis.
  3. Second theme is robotic devices expanding tasks that extend or substitute workers, reshaping state organisation.
  4. Third theme is partitioning state functions to maximise productivity within vertical policy sectors.

The gain

DSAI technologies enhance public agency and civil society capabilities through data de-compression and enable productivity gains via an intelligent centre, devolved delivery model for state functions.

The rundown

The article examines digital era governance in light of data science and AI, labelled DSAI, and proposes four top-level themes. It argues large-scale data storage and analysis obviates Weberian compression and supports data-intensive information regimes.

It further describes robotic expansion of machine tasks affecting state organisation, new vertical partitioning of functions for productivity in an intelligent centre, devolved delivery model, and horizontal administrative holism through integration and needs-based joining-up of services.

Sources

  1. Peer-reviewedPublic Policy and Administration2023-09-25

The debate