ILPC 2027

Issue being investigated

The concept of ‘democratic professionalism’ has been identified as a way in which public sector professions can redefine their own professionalism, during a period when conventional roles are under attack (Whitty 2000, Sachs 2001, Groundwater-Smith & Sachs 2005).  Susskind & Susskind (2015) argue that new technologies are already having a fundamental impact on the role that professionals play because of the large amounts of information that are readily available, often on the internet, which makes the traditional professional role as gatekeeper to knowledge redundant. This is accompanied by a growing questioning of the value of professional expert knowledge. However, access to information is not the same as knowledge, which is especially relevant when considering how public sector professionals apply their knowledge in future.  Collins (2014) outlines two different types of ‘ubiquitous expertise’ - ubiquitous tacit knowledge and specialist tacit knowledge.  These differences begin to show that although lay people do have extensive knowledge that is often not drawn on in the delivery of public services, there are also sources of specialist tacit knowledge which professionals will continue to have a role in interpreting for services users. 

Research questions

There are two main research questions:

1.       Are new arrangements for creating and sharing knowledge in a more democratic way needed in public services which are being influenced by digitalisation? 

2.       How can public sector professionals develop ways of working with new technologies in a more democratic way, supporting clients in interpreting and applying knowledge?

Contribution to knowledge in field

This research contributes to a) a growing focus on the role of professionals within organisations and corporations and b) places democratic professionalism within the context of contemporary debates about digitalisation and specifically addresses some of the concerns about digitalisation and public services.

How it is being investigated?

The exploration of whether democratic professionalism has a role to play in ameliorating the impact of digitalisation on public services will be conducted through a series of interviews with public sector professionals directly affected by the introduction of digitalisation, for example, social workers, nurses, doctors and teachers.  This will complement more formal academic research into digitalisation of public services.

Expected findings

The digitalisation of public services is providing both positive and negative experiences of sharing knowledge with service users.  Explaining the results of high technology diagnoses with patients is one example of how public sector professionals already share knowledge which is generated through digitalisation.  However, there are less well defined relationships when services users can access information but may need public sector professionals to support them in using this information, e.g. planning permission.  The challenge for the future is for public sector professionals and service users to work together to use new technologies to solve problems facing society, e.g. climate change, migration.

References

Collins H. (2014) Are We All Scientific Experts Now? Cambridge: Polity

Groundwater-Smith, S. & Sachs, J. (2002) 'The Activist Professional and the Reinstatement of Trust Cambridge Journal of Education 32 (3): 341 — 358

Sachs, J. (2001) Teacher professional identity: competing discourses, competing outcomes Journal of Education Policy 16 (2), 149-161

Susskind R. & Susskind D. (2015) The Future of the Professions How technology will transform the work of human experts  Oxford: Oxford University Press

Whitty, G. (2000) Teacher professionalism in New Times Journal of In-Service Education 26(2): 281-295