Digitalization, Democracy, and Governance

The Digitalization, Democracy, and Governance (DDG) section is an interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to understanding the role of digital technologies in designing, organizing, and governing social and natural resources. DDG explores the relations and boundaries between humans and technology, focusing on their political and societal implications.

Through perspectives such as critical social computing, participation, welfare, health care, organizational transformation, humanitarian intervention, and innovation, DDG conducts research in diverse local and global contexts, including the public sector, civil societies, communities, businesses, and everyday life.

Advocating a responsible and collaborative research approach, DDG emphasizes a human-centered philosophy while recognizing the importance of people's interactions and relationships with other-than-human actors, and their participation in technology design and development that align with and respect planetary boundaries.

DDG investigates the dynamic interactions between technology, individuals, organizations, and societies, applying interdisciplinary approaches and methods, including Action Research, Ethnography, Social Research, Participatory Design, Service Design, Design Research.

DDG’s research contributes to fostering equitable, inclusive, and sustainable futures by advancing practices and policies that promote societal wellbeing, democratic participation, and technological innovation within sustainable limits.

DDG interdisciplinary research relates to the international research fields, including:

• Critical Management Studies (CMS), Organizational Studies, and Innovation Management,
• Participatory Design (PD), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Systems (IS), and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW),
• Anthropology, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Media and Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, and Development Studies

Head of Section: Sanna-Maria Marttila

Research groups: Welfare Technology, REFLACT,