作为“治理工具”和“工作机制”的信息技术——理解政府中的技术治理

Information Technology as a“Governance Tool”and“Working Mechanism”—Understanding Technology Governance in Government

政府“技术治理”包含两种不同的概念:技术化的治理(软性技术治理)和利用信息技术的治理(硬性技术治理)。一方面,信息技术作为政府的治理工具,赋能决策、执行和监督等过程。另一方面,平台型技术为政府提供工作机制,在不改变既有政府组织体系的前提下,在虚拟空间实现减少繁密审核、压缩治理层级、打破部门边界,起到润滑僵化的科层组织结构的作用。不过,信息技术是政府自主选择和使用的过程,政府有意选择部分技术,技术运作过程亦受到权力权威、专业分工、纵向分层、规章制度等要素影响,科层结构制约为理解政府科层组织中的技术治理限度提供了帮助。

Government“technology governance”encompasses two different concepts:technicized governance(soft tech⁃nology governance)and governance using information technology(hard technology governance).On the one hand,information technology acts as a governance tool,empowering the process of decision⁃making,implementation and supervision.On the other hand,platform⁃based technology provides a working mechanism,without altering the existing organizational system,enable the reduction of cumbersome reviews,streamlining of governance levels,and breaking of departmental boundaries in virtual space,thus lubricating rigid bureaucratic structures.However,the adoption and utilization of information technology by the government is a process of autonomous selection,in which the government intentionally chooses certain technologies.The operation of these technologies is also influenced by factors such as power and authority,professional division of labor,vertical stratification,and regulatory frameworks.Understanding the constraints of bureaucratic structures helps in comprehending the limits of technical governance within governmental bureaucratic organizations.