From discretion to standardization: Digitalization of the police organization
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Author | Niri Talberg,Helene OI Gundhus,Christin T Wathne |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/14613557211036554 |
| Subject Matter | Original Research Articles |
From discretion to standardization:
Digitalization of the police organization
Helene OI Gundhus
Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, University of Oslo, Norway;
Research Department, Politihøgskolen, Norway
Niri Talberg
Institute for Labour and Social Research, Fafo, Norway
Christin T Wathne
Work Research Institute, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
Abstract
In this article, we aim to examine whether intelligence-led policing in police practice reinforces the control model of the
police organization. We argue that digitalization of police working life resurrects several of Taylor’s management princi-
ples, such as greater division of labor, specialization, standardization and focus on measurable and efficient processes.
Drawing on empirical research via two cross-sectional surveys, focus group and individual in-depth interviews with 40
Norwegian police officers, we analyze the extent to which this is conditioned by how work processes are organized
and how knowledge practices are operationalized and standardized. We show perceptions of standardization that
break up policing processes and lead to greater control over which tasks the front line performs and how these should
be carried out. As a result, traditional police discretion becomes more standardized, constrained and de-contextualized.
This is reinforced by the implementation of intelligence-led policing to manage knowledge within the police organization,
which may eventually lead to a more top-down, bureaucratic and fragmented style of policing. Thus police professionalism
becomes understood as being greater standardization and organizational control. An unintended consequence is a shift
towards digitalized neo-Taylorism in policing, with implications for de-skilling of the police. The results dem onstrate a
managerialist view of the police organization, in which top-down steering and use of technology ultimately lead to a nar-
rowing of police discretion and a more invisible high-policing style of police that may increase militarization of the police
organization.
Keywords
Digital Taylorism, discretion, intelligence-led policing, police organization, professionalism, standardization
Submitted 3 Sep 2020, Revise received 27 Apr 2021, accepted 28 Jun 2021
Introduction
According to organizational theory, standardization is one
of the most important means of streamlining organizational
behavior (Freidson, 2004; see also Ladegård and Vabo,
2011; Mintzberg, 1979; Wathne, 2020), and digitalization
Corresponding author:
Helene OI Gundhus, Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law,
University of Oslo, P.O. Box 6706 St. Olavs plass, NO-0130 Oslo,
Norway.
Email: h.o.i.gundhus@jus.uio.no
Original Research Article
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
2022, Vol. 24(1) 27–41
© The Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/14613557211036554
journals.sagepub.com/home/psm
To continue reading
Request your trial