Rules, Programmability, and Discretion in the Digitalized Bureaucracy

This chapter focuses on the rational-legal authority associated with public bureaucracies, namely legality and the rule of law. In the Rechtsstaat, where the rule of law prevails, citizens should be able to know which rules apply, how they will be applied, and what to expect. We understand rules as generalized principles for decision-making that are applicable within a defined area, and which can be applied to individual cases. The chapter shows how digital technologies interact with rules, programmability, and frontline workers’ exercise of discretion. The chapter discusses how this affects the bureaucratic ethos of employees and bureaucratic values such as transparency and responsiveness.