Professor William Webster

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Management, Work and Organisation University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor William Webster

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About me

About me

I graduated in 1994 with a First Class Honours degree in Public Administration and was also awarded a Certificate in Public Service Practice following a year long placement as a civil service Fast Stream Administrative Trainee, at the Information Technology Office of the Inland Revenue. Between 1994 and 2000 I was a researcher based at the Centre for the Study of Telematics and Governance (CSTAG), Caledonian Business School, undertaking research into new innovative electronic public services.In 2000 I was appointed as a Lecturer in Public Management at the University of Stirling and in 2007 I was promoted to Senior Lecturer. I am the Director of the Public Service Management MBA and BA (Hons) Public Management & Administration programmes and contribute to a range of programmes and modules at the University. My research interests focus on issues to do with governing in the information age (e-government) and I am a recognised expert on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance cameras and Interactive Digital Television (iDTV). I am a member of the Public Sector Management Research Group and a number of academic and professional networks, including the European Group of Public Administration and the International Research Society for Public Management. Press Coverage of Research Gordon, T. ‘£375,000 TV Scheme Only Tracks Down Two Viewers’. The Herald, 13 January, p1 & p7, 2006. The Scotsman. ‘The Interactive Digital Television Pilot’.The Scotsman, Science and Technology, 13 January, p41, 2006. Society of Public Information Networks (SPIN) ‘Scottish iDTV Pilot – Evaluation’, Electronic Public Information, April/May, p6, 2006. Teaching Programme Leadership Director of theMBA Public Service Management programme. Module Coordination PMA9PS Public Management & Administration(spring)PMA9PANew Public Management(autumn)PMA9PPPartnership Working(spring)PMA9P8 Public Management & Administration Dissertation (spring)PSMP15Managing Partnerships(spring)PSMP22Contemporary Issues in Public Policy and Management(springPSMP20MBA (Public Service Management)Dissertation Other Teaching Contributions MGT9A3The Evolution and Development of Management(autumn)BUS927Strategic Management(autumn)PSMP01The Public Service Manager

Research (7)

My research interests are broadly in the area of contemporary public policy and management, and the policy processes and governance structures associated with governing in the information age. In particular, innovations in processes of governance, public policy and management which are facilitating the adoption and diffusion of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in government, democratic relations and the delivery of public services and citizenship. I am a recognised expert on the emergence of new surveillance technologies in public service and policy settings and a leading authority on the policies and practices surrounding the provision of closed circuit television/video surveillance cameras and systems in public places. My research interests also include the normality of technologically mediated surveillance practices in society, the governance and regulation of privacy and data protection, and the exploration of the defining characteristics of emerging surveillance societies. Other areas of research expertise include the use of Interactive Digital Television (iDTV) for the provision of public services and the use of internet based technologies by political representatives in Scotland.Research Networks and Activity

Chair of the Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) COST Action IS0807 (2009-13). LiSS is the first international multi-disciplinary social science research programme exploring the everyday implications of living in societies where technologically mediated surveillance practices are pervasive. The programme involves over 150 researchers from 26 different countries. Member of the Surveillance Studies Network (SSN) a registered charitable company dedicated to the study of surveillance in all its forms. Inaugural member of the Scottish Privacy Forum organised by the Information Commissioners Office. One of the UK’s two nominated representatives in the ‘Regulation and Control’ Working Group (No.5) of theGovernment and Democracy in the Information Age(GaDIA) European Union COST A14 Action. I was also appointed as a ‘specialist advisor’ to the ‘Cyberdemocracy’ Working Group (No.1) of this research programme. Member of the nternational Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) an international research network dedicated to the study of public services and management, and a member of the Permanent Study Group on ‘E-Government (Information and Communication Technologies in Public Administration)’ of the European Group of Public Administration(EGPA). One of the inaugural members of the Centre for the Study of Telematics and Governance (CSTAG) research group based at the Caledonian Business School, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Directed by Professor John Taylor, 1994-2002.
A member of the Scottish Public Management Network (SPMN). The SPMN is a network of researchers and educators into and about public management who are based in HEIs, public policy and public service delivery organisations. A member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and have also recently been a member of the Information Resource Management Association (IRMA) and the Society of Public Information Networks (SPIN). A member of the Editorial Board of the journal Information Polity. Information polity is the leading International Journal of Government and Democracy in the Information Age.

Research Grants

In 2009 I successfully secured the funds for the four-year Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) COST Action IS0807 (2009-13). I am Chair and Grant Holder of this Research Programme which is funded by COST via the European Union 7th Framework Programme. In 2005 I was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to undertake a Review of the Scottish Interactive Digital Television Pilot. More information about this research, including the final report, can be found on the Scottish Executive’s Website. This research completed now features as an einclusion case study of the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme (Priority 1.1.2). In 2002 I was commissioned by Kirklees Metropolitan Council to undertake a project evaluation of ‘Joining it up in the Home – a Digital Television Project for Kirklees’. More information about this research, including the final report, can be found on the Kirklees Metropolitan Council Website. This project has informed the development of the National ‘DigiTV’ initiative.

Projects

Evidence Review into Public Experience and Confidence of Body Worn Video in a Policing Context
PI: Professor William Webster
Funded by: Scottish Institute for Policing Research

Emerging Technologies in Policing
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Institute for Policing Research

Coordinated higher institutions (universities) responses to digitalization (ESCALATE)
PI:
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)

Smart Governance of Sustainable Cities (SmartGov)
PI: Professor William Webster
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council

IRISS - Increasing resilience in surveillance societies
PI: Professor William Webster
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)

Assessing security research: tools and methodologies to measure societal impact a support action
PI: Professor William Webster
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)

Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS)
PI: Professor William Webster
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)

Outputs (106)

Outputs

Showing 100 of 106 — See all 106 outputs

Research Report

Connon I, Egan M, Hamilton-Smith N, MacKay N, Miranda D & Webster W (2023) Review of emerging technologies in policing: findings and recommendations. Scottish Institute for Policing Research. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/publications/review-emerging-technologies-policing-findings-recommendations/

Conference Proceeding

Robinson E, McQuaid R, Webb A & Webster CWR (2021) Unintended Consequences of E-Learning: Reflections on the Digital Transformation of Learning in Higher Education. In: Larsen C, Kipper J, Schmid A & Panzaru C (eds.) Transformations of Local and Regional Labour Markets across Europe in Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Times: Challenges for Regional and Local Observatories. 16th Annual Meeting of the European Network on Regional Labour Market Monitoring (EN RLMM), Timisoara, Romania, 22.09.2021-24.09.2021. Baden-Baden, Germany: Rainer Hampp Verlag, pp. 379-398. https://www.nomos-shop.de/nomos/titel/transformations-of-regional-and-local-labour-markets-across-europe-in-pandemic-and-post-pandemic-times-id-100850/

Conference Proceeding

Dalwai T, James M, Webster W, Alshukaili AM & Soosaimanickam A (2020) An investigation of citizen's e-participation within Oman's police department Facebook page. In: Santos H, Viale Pereira G, Budde M, Lopes SF & Nikolic P (eds.) Science and Technologies for Smart Cities. SmartCity 360 2019. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 323. International Summit Smart City 360, Braga, Portugal, 04.12.2019-06.12.2019. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 236-248. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51005-3_21

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2020) Editorial. Information Polity, 25 (1), pp. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-200002

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2020) Editorial. Information Polity, 25 (2), p. 135. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-200004

Book Chapter

Webster CWR & Leleux C (2020) Stand up please, the real Sustainable Smart City. In: Willis KS & Aurigi A (eds.) The Routledge Companion to Smart Cities. Routledge International Handbooks. London: Routledge, pp. 225-238. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315178387-16

Book Chapter

Leleux C & Webster CWR (2020) The Rise of Body-worn Video Cameras: A New Surveillance Revolution?. In: Newell BC (ed.) Police on Camera: Surveillance, Privacy, and Accountability. Routledge Series on Surveillance. London: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Police-on-Camera-Surveillance-Privacy-and-Accountability/Newell/p/book/9781138342439

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2019) Editorial. Information Polity, 24 (1), p. 1. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-190001

Editorial

Meijer A, Webster W & Lips M (2018) Editorial. Information Polity, 23 (1), pp. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-189001

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2018) Editorial. Information Polity, 23 (2), p. 113. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-180005

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2018) Editorial. Information Polity, 23 (3), p. 247. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-180008

Editorial

Meijer A & Webster W (2018) Editorial. Information Polity, 23 (4), pp. 359-360. https://doi.org/10.3233/ip-180011

Book Chapter

Leleux C & Webster CWR (2018) Resilience, surveillance and big data in crisis management: case studies from Europe, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In: Boersma K & Fonio C (eds.) Big Data, Surveillance and Crisis Management. Routledge Studies in Surveillance, 1. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 121-142. https://www.routledge.com/Big-Data-Surveillance-and-Crisis-Management/Boersma-Fonio/p/book/9781138195431

Lecture

Webster CWR & Leleux C (2016) Body-worn Cameras and Public Services in Scotland (Presentation) University of Glasgow, Urban Big Data Centre, Seminar Series, University of Glasgow, 07.04.2016-07.04.2016.

Lecture

Webster CWR & Leleux C (2016) The Rise of Body-Worn Video Cameras: A New Surveillance Revolution? (Presentation) The 7th Biennial Surveillance and Society Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 20.04.2016-23.04.2016. http://www.ssn2016.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/Booklet_Abstracts_2016.pdf

Research Report

Neumann A, Berglez R, Kreissl R, Zurawski N, Fischer D, Fonio C, Leleux C, Webster CWR, Peissl W, Lastic E, Kovanic M & Spiller K (2014) IRISS (Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies) FP7 European Research Project, Deliverable 4.2: Doing privacy in everyday encounters with surveillance.. European Commission. European Commission, FP7, IRISS: Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies Deliverable, 4.2. IRISS. http://www.irissproject.eu/

Research Report

Ball K, Spiller K, Dahm S, Friedewald M, Galetta A, Goos K, Jones R, Lastic E, Norris C, Raab CD, Bergersen S, Bellanova R, Leleux C, Webster CWR & Burgess JP (2014) IRISS (Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies) FP7 European Research Project, Deliverable 3.2: Surveillance Impact Report. European Commission. European Commission, FP7, IRISS: Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies Deliverable, 3.2. IRISS. http://irissproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/D3.2-Surveillance-Impact-report1.pdf1.pdf

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Webster CWR & Leleux C (2014) The Emergence of SMART CCTV in Scotland. SSN 2014: Surveillance Ambiguities & Assymetries - The 6th international Surveillance & Society conference, Barcelona, Spain, 24.04.2014-25.04.2014. http://www.ssn2014.net/?page_id=1184

Book Chapter

Webster CWR (2013) Surveillance as X-ray. In: Meijer A, Bannister F & Thaens M (eds.) ICT, Public Administration and Democracy in the Coming Decade. Innovation and the Public Sector, 20. Amsterdam: IOS Press, pp. 42-56. http://ebooks.iospress.nl/publication/33522

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Webster CWR & Leleux C (2013) SMART CCTV in Scotland. European Group of Public Administration Annual Conference, Edinburgh, 11.09.2013-13.09.2013. https://www.conftool.pro/egpa2013/index.php?page=browseSessions&form_session=25

Research Report

Webster CWR, Leleux C, Sterbik-Lamina J, Cas J, Peissl W, Fischer D, Bonss W, De Hert P, Galdon Clavell G, Galetta A, Fonio C, Jones R, Szekely I & Vissy B (2013) Deliverable D2.1: The Social Perspective. IRISS Work Package 2, 2.1. IRISS - Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies. http://irissproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Social-perspectives-of-surveillance-and-democracy-report-D2.1-IRISS.pdf

Research Report

Raab CD, Jones R, Fischer D, Bonss W, Lastic E, Szekely I, Vissy B, Galdon Clavell G, Webster CWR, Leleux C, De Hert P & Galetta A (2013) Deliverable D2.2: The Political Perspective. IRISS Work Package 2, 2.2. IRISS - Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies. http://irissproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Political-perspectives-of-surveillance-and-democracy-report-D2.2-IRISS.pdf

Book Chapter

Webster CWR (2012) Public administration as surveillance. In: Ball K, Haggerty K & Lyon D (eds.) The Handbook of Surveilance Studies. Routledge International Handbooks. Abingdon, UK: Routledge UK, pp. 313-320. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415588836/

Edited Book

Webster CWR, Topfer E, Klauser FR & Raab CD (eds.) (2012) Video Surveillance: Practices and Policies in Europe. Innovation and the Public Sector, 18. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press. http://www.iospress.nl/book/video-surveillance/

Edited Book

Webster CWR, Balahur D, Zurawski N, Boersma K, Sagvari B, Backman C & Leleux C (eds.) (2012) Living in Surveillance Societies: The Ghosts of Surveillance (redacted by Leleux, Charles). Iasi, Romania: Editura Universitatii, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, IASI. http://www.cost.eu/media/publications/12-23-Living-in-Surveillance-Societies-The-Ghosts-of-Surveillance

Book Chapter

Murakami Wood D & Webster CWR (2011) The Normality of Living in Surveillance Societies. In: van der Hof S & Groothuis M (eds.) Innovating Government: Normative, Policy and Technological Dimensions of Modern Government. Information Technology and Law Series, 20. The Hague, The Netherlands: T.M.C. Asser Press, pp. 151-164. http://www.asser.nl/publications.aspx?site_id=28&level1=14485&id=4402

Lecture

Webster CWR (2011) Policy Processes and the Evidence-base: CCTV (Presentation) Onati International Institute for the Sociology of Law Workshops 2011: "Security Public Policy in an Age of Insecurity", Bilbao, Spain, 07.04.2011-08.04.2011.

Lecture

Webster CWR (2011) European Perspectives on Surveillance and Everyday Life: Expert panel presentation in the 'Surveillance and Law-enforcement in the Stockholm Programme' session (Presentation) 4th International Conference: Computer, Privacy & Data Protection: "European Data Protection: In Good Health?", Brussels, Belgium, 25.01.2011-27.01.2011.

Lecture

Webster CWR (2010) Living in Surveillance Societies (Presentation) Escola De Outono em Administracao Publica (National Doctoral Training School) 2010, Vila Real, Portugal, 04.10.2010-08.10.2010.

Lecture

Webster CWR (2010) Developments in the study of CCTV (Presentation) Living in Surveillance Societies (LiSS) Working Group 4 Meeting 2010, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 29.09.2010-30.09.2010.

Lecture

Webster CWR (2010) Revisiting the Camera Revolution in the UK: A Slide Show (Presentation) 'Living in (Un)regulated Surveillance Society?' colloquium, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 29 September 2010, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 29.09.2010-29.09.2010.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Smith C & Webster CWR (2007) The Emergent ICT Culture of Parliamentarians: The Case of the Scottish Parliament. European Group of Public Administration Annual Conference Study Group on eGovernment: Information and Communications Technologies in Public Administration, Madrid, Spain, 19-22 September 2007, Madrid, Spain, 19.09.2007-22.09.2007. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/view/people/Smith=3AColin_F=3A=3A.default.html

Book Chapter

Webster CWR (2007) Myths, Rhetoric and Policy in the Information Age: The Case of Closed Circuit Television. In: Griffin D, Trevorrow P & Halpin E (eds.) Developments in E-Government: A Critical Analysis. First ed. Innovation and the Public Sector, 13. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: IOS Press, pp. 16-30. http://ebooks.iospress.com/volume/developments-in-e-government

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Webster CWR (2007) CCTV Technology and Policy: The Evolution of the Revolution. "Surveillance in Scotland: Current Practices and Future Prospects" workshop organised by the Public Policy Network, University of Edinburgh, and the Information Commissioner’s Office, Edinburgh, UK, 05.10.2007-05.10.2007.

Book Chapter

Smith C & Webster CWR (2006) Interactive Digital Television and the 'New' Citizen. In: Bekkers V, van Duivenboden H & Thaens M (eds.) Information and Communication Technology and Public Innovation: Assessing the ICT-driven Modernization of Public Administration. First ed. Innovation and the Public Sector, 12. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: IOS Press, pp. 121-137. http://ebooks.iospress.com/volume/information-and-communication-technology-and-public-innovation

Conference Proceeding

Smith C & Webster CWR (2006) Interactive Digital Television and Electronic Public Services: Emergent Issues. In: Ljunberg J & Andersson M (eds.) ECIS 2006 Proceedings. 14th European Conference on Information Systems, Goteborg, Sweden, 12-14 June 2006, Goteborg, Sweden, 12.06.2006-14.06.2006. Göteborg, Sweden: European Conference on Information Systems, pp. 1932-1948. http://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2006/121

Article

Smith C & Webster CWR (2004) Members of the Scottish Parliament on the Net. Information Polity, 9 (1/2), pp. 67-80. http://iospress.metapress.com/content/bgddqqmpalymx3e7/?p=d88ac74272694e6f97a091556d320357π=6

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Smith C & Webster CWR (2003) What’s on the box? Electronic Public Services and the Future of Television. 17th meeting of the Permanent Study Group on Informatization in Public Administration, European Group of Public Administration Annual Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 03.09.2003-06.09.2003.

Article

Smith CF & Webster CWR (2002) Delivering Public Services Through Digital Television. Public Money and Management, 22 (4), pp. 25-32. http://www-scopus-com.ezproxy.stir.ac.uk/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036809938&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Delivering+public+services+through+digital+television&sid=3E0F1FEC7D51790BC04BB42A0BFDB0AE.mw4ft95QGjz1tIFG9A1uw%3a190&sot=b&sdt=b&sl=; https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9302.00326

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Smith C & Webster CWR (2002) Delivering Public Services Through Digital Television. 16th meeting of the Permanent Study Group on Informatization in Public Administration, European Group of Public Administration Annual Conference, Potsdam, Germany, 04.09.2002-07.06.2002.

Conference Proceeding

Webster CWR & Hood J (2001) Surveillance in the Community: Community Development Through the Diffusion of Closed Circuit Television Surveillance Cameras. In: Keeble L & Loader B (eds.) Community Informatics: Shaping Computer-Mediated Social Relations. 'Community Informatics - Community Development Through the Use of Information and Communication Technologies [ICT’s]' conference, CIRA, University of Teesside, UK, 26-28 April 2000, Teesside, UK, 26.04.2000-28.04.2000. London, UK: Routledge, pp. 220-239. https://www.routledge.com/Community-Informatics-Shaping-Computer-Mediated-Social-Networks/Eagle-Hague-Keeble-Loader/p/book/9780415231121

See all 106 outputs