Toward Open Public Administration Scholarship

Charles M. Schweik, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Ines Mergel, Syracuse University
Jodi Sandfort, University of Minnesota
Zhirong Zhao, University of Minnesota

Abstract

This essay focuses on the potential of information communication technologies to move the Public Administration (PA) scholarly community into a new information paradigm. We begin with a review of conventional approaches PA scholars use to communicate with each other, students, and practitioners. After illustrating advances in Web applications, we call for an ‘‘Open PA Scholarship’’ in which research, teaching, and engagement are conducted in a more participatory, timely, and effective manner enabled by new technologies. We conclude with a proposal of Online PA Commons, an interactive Web platform that may facilitate the development of such scholarship.