Digital Transformation in the Legislative Process: A Case Study of Porto Alegre’s City Council
About the Porto Alegre’s City Council | Brazil. Written on January, 2022
Introduction
The City Council of Porto Alegre, Brazil, has been on a journey to digitalise its processes and make its work more transparent and accessible to the public. The transcription under review presents a candid appraisal of the challenges, developments and aspirations in this digital transformation initiative.
A Gradual Transition to Digitalisation
For several years, Porto Alegre's City Council, a local parliament comprising 36 members, has been slowly implementing digital tools to facilitate the digitalisation of legislative processes. The intention has been to increase transparency and enhance citizen engagement by making legislative decisions and projects accessible.
However, this digitalisation process has been predominantly manual, involving the digitisation of physical paper documents and their subsequent uploading to a website. While this initiative has increased the visibility of the Chamber’s activities, it remains a rather rudimentary approach.
Challenges and Limitations
One of the critical challenges identified in the transcription is the nature of the data provided. The Chamber provides 'closed' data, limiting the public's ability to use and manipulate the data according to their needs. This inherently reduces the capacity for civic participation and interaction.
The process of digitalisation also faced cultural resistance, particularly from older members of the legislature who found it harder to adapt to digital systems. The speaker, a long-serving staff member of the Chamber, highlights these cultural obstacles as a significant impediment to transitioning to a fully digital legislative process.
A Paradigm Shift Triggered by the Pandemic
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil forced a rapid digital transformation within the City Council. Following a lockdown in March, the Chamber had to shift its legislative processes to an entirely digital format, necessitating the adaptation of existing software designed for administrative processes. Despite the system's unfriendly user-interface and the initial cultural resistance, the urgency of the pandemic spurred the members to adapt and continue their work.
The switch to digital processes highlighted another challenge: the lack of interoperability between the various systems used within the Chamber. This lacuna led to isolated and disconnected systems, reducing efficiency and frustrating the user experience.
However, the speaker notes an interesting outcome: despite the difficulties, the members of the Chamber widely accepted the digital legislative process, with no desire to revert to the previous system. The ease and convenience of the digital process, which allowed them to work from anywhere, were major contributing factors to its acceptance.
Towards a More Integrated and Participatory Future
The City Council is now investing in the further development and integration of its digital tools. They are recruiting IT staff, exploring more suitable software for legislative processes, and working on improving the interface of their website.
The ultimate goal is to enhance citizen participation in legislative processes. The speaker mentions the development of a more interactive system that allows citizens to contribute more effectively, including participation in surveys.
Conclusion
The case of Porto Alegre’s City Council illustrates the complex and multifaceted nature of digital transformation, especially in the public sector. It underscores the challenges that come with it, ranging from technical to cultural issues. Despite these obstacles, the forced transition during the pandemic demonstrated the potential benefits of digitalisation, including increased efficiency and accessibility. The Chamber's ongoing efforts to improve and integrate its digital systems reflect a commitment to making the legislative process more transparent and participatory, marking a significant stride towards a more digitalised and democratic future.