New forms of work in the digital era: Anticipatory Governance in response to the organizational challenges in the public sector

The impact of new technologies on ways of working represents a significant challenge for public organizations in a rapidly evolving social and cultural scenario (Perry & Batista, 2023; Holtgreve, 2014). This topic is crucial for the impact of technology on people both from a communicative-relational point of view and concerning how people will be able to use technologies to perform better in their organizational contexts. To respond to this challenge, an approach of particular interest may be anticipatory governance. Anticipatory governance is an innovative approach that can help public organizations prepare for and respond proactively to changes brought about by emerging technologies (Guston, 2014; Poli, 2022, 2021). It is about identifying and analyzing potential developments, engaging stakeholders, and proactively addressing potential challenges and opportunities. By adopting anticipatory governance, public organizations can take charge of their future, stay ahead of the curve, and be better equipped to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving technology landscape. This can help them avoid costly mistakes, improve efficiency, and improve their ability to meet citizens' needs, empowering them to shape their lives in society. The following contribution focuses on how anticipatory governance can represent a valuable approach for public organizations in redesigning relationships and work processes in the public sector in response to technological changes. To answer these questions, a questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was submitted to understand the perception of public employees at the local level in the Italian context regarding the concept of anticipatory governance and its impact in responding to changes in working methods due to new technologies. The following contribution provides some preliminary implications from a theoretical-managerial point of view. From a theoretical point of view, it intends to insert itself into the academic debate regarding anticipatory governance and its role in understanding the social phenomena resulting from using new technologies. From a managerial point of view, however, it intends to provide a preliminary reading on how public decision-makers can use this approach to respond to changes in working methods in the public sector.