Technology platforms for public participation: Blue Ocean and value innovation?

Abstract

The rise of social media has led to the adoption of technology platforms for interaction between governments and citizens, mainly aimed at meeting the global demand for greater openness of public management in search of social participation. However, few research studies deal with the concrete results obtained by using these platforms. This paper aims to verify if the adoption of these platforms generates value innovations, with some disruption in the current form of interaction between governments and citizens, leading them to navigate in the Blue Ocean of participation, collaboration, and reduction of costs. We conclude that the main values - legitimacy of public policies, notion of transparency of public management, and support for decision making - are generated profits for governmental institutions that use the platforms. We suggest that the platforms should offer greater prominence to the generation of value for citizens and better absorption of the knowledge generated on the platforms.