In this paper, we identify, analyze and propose generic requirements for software aiming at supporting crisis management training in local governments. The study builds on a Swedish-Norwegian R&D project based on a quadruple helix model. A design science approach was applied and the artifact presented in this paper is a list of generic requirements. The generic requirements are divided into overall requirements, requirements connected to the trainer’s role and requirements connected to the trainee’s role. The requirements are also mapped to the problems and opportunities identified in the project. Finally, we present examples of elaborations of the addressed requirements based on software design considerations. The presented requirements and the systems development process that was used provide guidelines for systems analysts and developers in future systems development projects aiming at constructing new software for crisis management training.

The ongoing digital transformation in government has enabled innovative changes in operational processes and service. However, while e-services and social media are widely adopted, earlier studies indicate that this transformation is still being awaited in other areas, such as crisis or disaster preparedness. Recent events such as the 2018 wildfires in several parts of Europe, as well as empirical research, highlight the need for more (systematic) training of local governments’ crisis management teams. Conventional training methods are time- and space-dependent and require long-term planning, making it complicated to increase the extent of training. In this interdisciplinary study, we report on the results from the Swedish-Norwegian CriseIT project that aimed to develop information systems (IS) for crisis management training. The purpose of the article is to describe information systems designed to support local governments’ crisis management training and to discuss how these artefacts could improve crisis management training practices.

In this paper we analyze and present the generic requirements identified for a software aiming at supporting crisis management training in local governments. The generic requirements are divided into overall requirements, requirements connected to the trainer’s role and requirements connected to the trainee’s role. Moreover, the requirements are mapped to problems as well as opportunities. Finally, we present examples of elaborations of the addressed requirements based on software design considerations. In our work we applied a design science approach and the artifact presented in this paper is a list of generic requirement. The presented requirements and the systems development process used, provide guidelines for systems analysts and developers in future systems development projects aiming at constructing new software for crisis management training

In this paper, we present a pilot study of page owner comments on page user posts.Analysed data consist of the page user posts on three Swedish municipalities Facebook pages inone month. In general, it can be concluded that all three municipalities comment on page userposts to quite a large or even large extent (92%, 69% and 52%). The 42-page user posts thatwere left uncommented mainly belong to the categories of expressing an opinion, sharinginformation and requesting information. Taken together, these categories were identified in 76percent of the analysed page user posts. Because they are also the top three categories for userposts in general, further questions are prompted as to where municipalities satisfy requests forinformation or if other users provide answers.

In this paper, we describe and discuss a semi-automatic approach for the integration of structural Karlstad Enterprise Modeling (EM) Schemata. The focus is on the implementation-independent level and therefore we treat an EM schema as a high-level description of data for some part of the future information system. Our point of departure is the classic four-phase integration process comprised of pre-integration, comparison of the schemata, conforming the schemata and, merging and restructuring. In relation to the semi-automatic approach described and discussed, we argue that several rules and knowledge repositories should be used to facilitate the whole integration process. However, it is also argued that the domain experts are still a very important source of knowledge and should therefore also be involved during the whole integration process. The research approach is inspired by design science in which the end product should be a useful artifact. In this paper, the artifact is provided in the described semi-automatic approach for the integration of Structural Karlstad EM schemata. As its main contribution, the paper offers a holistic view of the described and discussed semi-automatic approach for the integration of structural Karlstad EM schemata.

In this article, we address quality in the schema integration process. More specifically, we focus on schema quality improving tasks in the schema integration process. In doing so we describe best practices found in literature used for conceptual modeling as such and apply these to schema integration tasks. Particularly, we address five tasks within the integration process that if used with best quality practices should improve the quality of the integrated schema. Within each best practice, we also address the usage of knowledge repositories to aid in the process of creating a high quality integrated schema. The five tasks are as follows: choosing the right integration strategy, choosing the right conflict resolution methods for the chosen level of abstraction, introducing interschema properties to improve and clarify dependencies, combining methods, approaches and guidelines to facilitate recognition of conflicts and finally restructuring. The main contribution is given in the terms of which best practices in conceptual modeling are combined with important integration tasks.

In this paper, we address the classification dependency used to illustrate that one concept is an instance-of another concept. In doing so, we present four important aspects of the classification dependency in the integration of implementation-neutral Karlstad Enterprise Modelling schemata. First and second, the classification dependency can be used not only to recognise and resolve power types but also to recognise and resolve homonyms. Third, in inference rules, the classification dependency can be used to deduce both new concepts and dependencies from already existing ones. Fourth, the classification dependency can be used to counter the occurrence of semantic loss and maintain the vocabulary used in the source schemata. The classification dependency can even be used to semantically enrich the integrated conceptual schema. The four aspects of the classification dependency should also be viewed as important aspects to take into account during the development of a semi-automatic method for the integration of implementation-neutral structural EM schemata. Finally, by applying the classification dependency, several problems, such as power types and homonyms, might be recognised that otherwise could pass unnoticed in the integration process.

Social media is making its way into government agencies as a medium for citizen communication. A recent survey suggests that almost half of the population in Sweden uses Facebook. Consequently, government agencies such as municipalities have started adopting Facebook to ‘be where the users are’. Facebook offers new opportunities for rapid dissemination of information and dialogue with the public that may lead to greater transparency and increased e-democracy. However, relatively few studies exist that have examined the actual content in governments’ Facebook pages. In this exploratory case study of a Swedish municipality’s Facebook page, several categories of information posted on the Facebook wall are identified. While the municipality uses the wall primarily for marketing events, the public members display a diverse usage including requests for information or services, reports of service failure, and making complaints. Both parties also use the wall for community building.