TITLE
Entrepreneurial Research as Method
ABSTRACT
Datafication and algorithmisation are fundamentally transforming our society. Several societal sectors are implementing data practices and artificial intelligence into their work processes. This can have far-reaching consequences. They transform work processes and organisational cultures, but can also transform values. Novel data practices in public management affect our traditional understanding of democracy and citizenship. How can one investigate the impact of data practices and AI on societal sectors? Our approach was to investigate the change from within these organisations. We wanted to learn how (local) government organisations implement data practices and AI, and how they address ethical issues. For that purpose we developed the Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA), a process for evaluating data projects with an eye to ethical issues, value-sensitive design and stakeholder analysis (Franzke, Schäfer, Muis 2021). This enabled us to immerse as experts rather than researchers into the societal sectors under investigation (Siffels et al 2021). Next to privileged insight into operational capacities, planned or actually implemented data projects, and the way the organisation addressed ethical issues, this also allows for intervention and co-creation. We were not merely observers but participants, we were not only investigating but taking part in building the digital society.
This talk presents our approach of entrepreneurial research at the Utrecht Data School (Schäfer 2018): We demonstrate a number of tools and processes that we have developed in order to gain access to organisations, carry our research, receive funding and apply findings effectively. We discuss the challenges and opportunities using actual examples from our track record of working with Dutch (local) government organisations: the role of the researchers, the transdisciplinary research activities, and the participation of practitioners in the process. In conclusion we highlight the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurial research.
Franzke, Aline, Mirko Tobias Schäfer, Iris Muis. 2021. Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA): A dialogical framework for ethical inquiry of AI and data projects in the Netherlands. Ethics & Information Technology. 27 January 2021. [ Ссылка ]
Schäfer, Mirko Tobias: On Entrepreneurial Research. TMG Journal for Media History No 21, Vol 2. Special Issue Big Data Histories, edited by Eef Masson and Karin van Es, pp. 151-157
Siffels, Lotje, David van den Berg, Mirko Tobias Schäfer, Iris Muis. 2021. Public Values and Technological Change: Mapping how municipalities grapple with data ethics. In Hepp, Andreas, Juliane Jarke, Leif Kramp (eds). The Ambivalences of Data Power: New Perspectives in Critical Data Studies. Palgrave. in print
BIO
Mirko Tobias Schäfer is Associate Professor at Utrecht University's research area Governing the Digital Society. He is co-founder and programme leader of the Utrecht Data School. Mirko's research interest revolves around the socio-political impact of (media) technology. With the Utrecht Data School, he investigates the impact of data practices and algorithms on public management, public media and public space. His publications cover user participation, datafication, and communication in social media. He is author of the book Bastard Culture! How User Participation Transforms Cultural Production (Amsterdam University Press 2011), and editor (together with Karin van Es) of the volume The Datafied Society. Studying Culture through Data (Amsterdam University Press 2017).
MPE/MeCCSA Practice Network Symposium 2021
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