Crises, technology, and policy change

Public policy research investigates conditions and triggers of change in many ways. Technological developments other innovations are part these drivers but have to be seen the context social, economic, political developments. Although technological is often a long-term process, may occur only abruptly. This can partly attributed fact that major changes usually based on windows, which caused by crises, among things. issue Review Policy Research contributes understanding relationship between technology, crisis, change. The opens with an article most discussed crisis recent years, namely COVID-19 pandemic. Osei-Kojo, Kenney, et al. (2022) present analysis documents Ghana collected March 2020 May 2021. African countries one areas been comparatively little investigated so far, although there some first applications established frameworks like ACF (Bandelow al., 2022; Vecchione & Parkhurst, 2015). Osei-Kojo identify four levels diverse actors involved mitigation Ghana. By applying collective learning perspective, paper offers various theoretical, empirical, methodological results respect specifics process These include interplay formal informal actors, missing evidence trust as basis for processes challenge empirical using solely document analysis. second Liu Christensen deals institutionalization emergency management China. show peculiarities Chinese politics likely found similar form areas: On hand, institutions China specific solutions shaped country's particular culture historical path. For example, has evolved from traditional disaster management, while West its origins lie civil defense. However, challenges, such virus pandemics, increasing transnational exchange contributing transfers leads “hybrid reform patterns” highly centralized government-centered arrangements strengths challenges. Zhang develops framework comparing innovation governance processes. approach takes into account different complexity key problems leading ideal patterns governance. typology applied East Asian economies Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan serving typological examples. concludes design mixes must take institutional constraints interests state non-state effective. Mallinson Shafi discuss multiple opportunities challenges resulting smart home technologies (SHT) both research. From public SHT interpreted emerging subsystems constitute beliefs, networks, decision-making As new still established, issues addressed several arenas, including faced policymakers identities their original (like health, or environment). propose collaborative deal need overcoming barriers actors. They emphasize develop effective technologized aging societies. Roberts Schmid three case studies US federal government technology acceleration organizations “systems innovations” perspective. Case 1 legally independent non-profit In-Q-Tel used CIA. 2 FBI's operational division (OTD) also local agencies. 3 agency National Institute Occupational Safety Health (NIOSH) private entities. does not want name clear model optimal organizational design, comparison approaches yields generalizable recommendations. Generally speaking, suggest establishing linkages experts users, good metrics, fostering boundary spanners promotion. RPR illustrates connections technical innovations, Above all, regional diversity shows continues internationalize. invites further North Atlantic perspectives contributions parts world.