About us

Welcome to our research project dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of Smart Working (SW) in Public Administrations (PAs).

In an era marked by globalization, dematerialization, and digitalization, PAs are undergoing significant reforms aimed at improving their efficiency and effectiveness. Our project is committed to understanding and facilitating this transition through innovative research and practical solutions.

The project is funded by European Union – Next Generation EU and the Italian Ministry of University and Research

Our mission

Our mission is to analyze, develop, and implement Smart Working practices in Public Administrations to enhance their performance and value creation processes. By focusing on the principles of greater discretion and responsibility in work activities, we aim to support PAs in becoming more efficient and effective for the benefit of their citizens and stakeholders.

Objectives

Analyze Impact Factors: Investigate the main factors influencing the implementation of Smart Working in PAs and their effects on individual and organizational performance.

Policy Development: Identify and propose policies, change management models, and actions for successful SW implementation in PAs.

Performance Tools: Develop tools for measuring and managing performance, including both financial and non-financial metrics such as employee satisfaction, gender equality, and citizen satisfaction.

Inter-University Laboratory: Establish a collaborative research laboratory focused on SW policies and practices in PAs, open to the participation of PAs, their representative bodies, stakeholder associations, and research institutions.

Approach

We adopt an interpretativist approach to enhance our understanding of how Smart Working impacts the intellectual capitals and performance of PAs. Our research methodology is primarily qualitative, involving case studies developed through interviews and focus groups. This will be supplemented by a quantitative survey conducted in two stages—initially as a pilot in selected PAs and subsequently at a national level on a statistically representative sample of PAs.

Key Research Areas

Human Capital: Exploring how Smart Working affects employee performance, satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Structural/Organizational Capital: Examining the changes in organizational structures and processes required for effective Smart Working.

Relational Capital: Understanding the impact of Smart Working on relationships within PAs and with external stakeholders.

Work packages


Management and coordination
The first work package aims at ensuring the highest collaboration and coordination between partners, their commitment to time schedule and the most valuable benefits from meetings and workshops. The leader of this work package is required to assign tasks to all project partners in order to ensure the highest involvement.
They should also guarantee the best allocation of financial, human and all other resources, maximizing the impact of the project and the sustainability of the results.

Quality control
The second work package is aimed at ensuring adequate and accurate monitoring of the project. It describes the procedures for following up and monitoring the project’s progress. It also includes the criteria for taking corrective actions to ensure that the project deliverables meet the expectations and requirements of the project partners and stakeholders.

Risk Analysis
The goal of the third work package is to forecast all potential threats to the deployment of the research project, the probability of their occurrence and the effects on the project. It defines a remediation plan that is able to face and minimise the effects of all potential risks to the project.

Dissemination
The fourth and final work package ensures the highest visibility of the project and its activities. It is most important to disseminate the project outcomes and products and to share the experience gained during its realization. Sharing such results among the consortium partners and the funding program sponsoring the project is also important.

Nome del progetto: hell, purgatory, or paradise? institutionalizing Smart Working IN Governments – ACRONIMO SWING

CUP B53D23009790006

Codice Progetto: 2275 2023-RP-PROFCMIUR_PC-PRIN2022_003

Investimento: Fondo per il Programma Nazionale Ricerca (PNR) e progetti di Ricerca di Significativo Interesse Nazionale (PRIN) del Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) finanziato dall’Unione Europea “Next Generation EU”, 2022.

Project Coordinator: Università di Siena

Other participants: Università di Bologna, Università di Cagliari, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”

Principal Investigator: Dr. Prof. Pasquale Ruggiero

Start date 28/09/2023 – End date 27/09/2025