Lost in Translation – How Policy EnactmentGet Stuck in the Digital Fix

Abstract

According to narrative trends, digitalization has the potential to deconstruct existing power structures and increase participation and democracy in society; however, we will argue, it is unable to accomplish these changes on its own. Specifically, the deconstruction of existing structures cannot happen through digitalization alone; instead, these results depend on how digitalization is done. It is important to focus on understanding what happens in the digitalization process, what is transformed, as well as when it is done, and by whom. We will, therefore, combine a policy enactment framework with a critical analytical framework of digitalization to create a possibility to address the institutional power aspects of digitalization in a specific setting i.e., cultural heritage. We do this by analyzing how policy enactment, which is a way to understand policymaking as a process of organizational interpretations and translations by diverse policy actors, affects the construction of cultural heritage. The results show how digitalization easily becomes a process that is unable to question, it tends to engulf all other values, and cultural heritage is turned into meta-data, getting 'clicks' on the internet and attracting tourists to the region.

Best of the best: an investigation of policy enactment for key drivers of digitalization

“…Previous critiques have highlighted such ambiguities; and if these statements are enforced, it could lead to an “un-resilient digital modernity” (Nyhlén and Gidlund, 2022, p. 339). The notion of “becoming the best” with regard to digitalization initiatives, as previously observed, does not contribute value to practice and might be considered “lost in translation” (Nyhlén and Gidlund, 2019) or “lost in digitalization” (Frennert, 2018) when being enacted. Figure 1 further supports this, as it shows that few respondents are currently engaged in working with these grand narratives.…”

“…One approach to examining options for action is through policy enactment, which entails the interpretation and translation of policies by various stakeholders (Nyhl en and Gidlund, 2019). Policies are typically formulated at a strategic level, with the aim of guiding development in a specific direction.…”

“…Policies are typically formulated at a strategic level, with the aim of guiding development in a specific direction. However, among the actors involved, one group of practitioners is responsible for implementing or applying these policies in their everyday doing (Nyhl en and Gidlund, 2019). Ball et al (2011, p. 631) characterizes the process of transforming abstract policy ideals into actionable steps as "things to do in 'real' situations."…”

Det performative samspil mellem digital infrastruktur og kulturelle arrangementer i den professionelle praksis i danske folkebiblioteker

“…Digitaliseringen af folkebibliotekerne er blevet beskrevet som en proces, der foregik i forbindelse med den generelle digitalisering af den offentlige sektor i Skandinavien (Nyhlén & Gidlund, 2019). I Danmark vedtog regeringen i 2002 en generel digitaliseringsstrategi (Digitaliseringsstyrelsen, 2002;Hylland et al, 2023, s.64).…”