arXiv subjects

Eva Knies

Publications and source records attributed to Eva Knies.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Shadows of Transparency: Signaling Transparency-Impeding Behavior Using Public Data

Freedom of Information (FOI) laws aim to increase government transparency, yet existing assessments focus mainly on legal compliance and procedural outcomes, leaving organizational behavior underexamined. As FOI processes are increasingly mediated through digital information systems, public response data offer traces of how organizations handle requests and disclosures in practice. This paper develops and evaluates a pattern-based approach that uses such data to signal transparency-impeding behavior across government agencies and over time. Drawing on prior literature, we identify nine recurring behavioral patterns that undermine transparency. Using a dataset of 15,277 Dutch FOI dossiers comprising 139,449 documents, we operationalize and evaluate measurable indicators for six of these patterns, demonstrating that they enable systematic comparison of disclosure practices across agencies and over time. Expert interviews with researchers, journalists, and civil servants confirm the interpretability and practical usefulness of the indicators for investigative prioritization, comparative research, and transparency oversight.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2025

TAPAS: A Pattern-Based Approach to Assessing Government Transparency

Government transparency, widely recognized as a cornerstone of open government, depends on robust information management practices. Yet effective assessment of information management remains challenging, as existing methods fail to consider the actual working behavior of civil servants and are resource-intensive. Using a design science research approach, we present the Transparency Anti-Pattern Assessment System (TAPAS) -- a novel, data-driven methodology designed to evaluate government transparency through the identification of behavioral patterns that impede transparency. We demonstrate TAPAS's real-world applicability at a Dutch ministry, analyzing their electronic document management system data from the past two decades. We identify eight transparency anti-patterns grouped into four categories: Incomplete Documentation, Limited Accessibility, Unclear Information, and Delayed Documentation. We show that TAPAS enables continuous monitoring and provides actionable insights without requiring significant resource investments.

cs.CY↗