On May 27, 2024, the "What Factors Influence Perceived AI Adoption by Public Managers?" webinar presented key findings from a comprehensive survey conducted across seven EU countries. This engaging session provided important insights into how different soft and hard factors are shaping AI implementation in public administration.
Highlights of the Webinar:
- Presentation of Findings: Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen of Utrecht University provided a comprehensive overview of the key drivers and challenges affecting AI adoption among public managers. The findings highlighted the critical interplay between technological capabilities and organisational culture, emphasising a dual approach to address both 'soft' and 'hard' factors effectively.
- Expert Panel Discussion: Panelists Greta Nasi (Bocconi University), Johannes Boermann (REFORM B.2, European Commission), and Martiene Branderhorst (Municipality of The Hague) offered a nuanced discussion on the implications of these findings. Their dialogue bridged the gaps between academic research, EU governance, and practical administration challenges, exploring how these insights could influence AI governance and policy-making.
- Research Insights and Practical Recommendations: The webinar also spotlighted the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework used in the study to evaluate the factors influencing AI adoption. This framework considers technological readiness, organisational support, and environmental factors, providing a robust basis for developing actionable recommendations to enhance AI integration in public sectors.
Key Outcomes and Future Directions:
- The survey indicated a shift from exploratory AI projects towards more substantial integrations, particularly in service delivery and operational efficiencies.
- Recommendations emphasised the need for enhanced AI literacy and managerial competencies to foster a conducive organizational culture for AI adoption.
- Future policy directions suggest a focus on expanding in-house expertise and regularly assessing public expectations to align AI projects with citizen needs.
This session highlighted the diverse factors impacting AI adoption in the public sector and underscored the need for comprehensive approaches to foster effective integration.
Engage further with the topic of AI in the public sector by participating in our AI Readiness Survey. Your insights will help shape our understanding of AI integration challenges and opportunities within the EU. Participate in the survey here.
Slides from this webinar, as well as the recording are available down below.