Caseworkers’ participation in procurement: Infrastructuring Child Welfare Services in Norway

Abstract Procurement is a widely adopted collaborative approach for acquiring new systems in the public sector. It exemplifies situation which early stages of digital system design define boundaries and constraints that must be specified tender document (i.e., binding offer). Researchers government officials have long recognized benefit end-user participation design. Given central role pre-tender phases procurement processes, however, there need to better understand what affects user such stages. In this paper, we research process municipal Child Welfare Services Norway. We focus on caseworkers' procuring future case management system. build concept participatory infrastructuring characterize how meaning was shaped through three overarching practices decision-making within rigid process: (i) scaling up project, (ii) negotiating meetings with potential suppliers documents, (iii) positioning caseworkers as subject experts. The analysis these reveals definition needs documentation creation knotworks both boundary conditions modalities participation. contribute conversation Computer-Supported Cooperative Work by discussing provides conceptual understanding context procurement.