Table A1

Analytical codes

Codes from Rose et al.’s public value framework (2015)Excerpts of caseworkers’ description on automation and professional values
EquityInterviewer: What is the major benefit with the RPA?
Caseworker: I would say that it is … what directly comes to mind is, what the RPA does … at our unit, the RPA prepares the case and handles it equally for everyone. The RPA takes care of all errands in the same manner [ …]
LegalityInterviewer: What is the major benefit with the RPA?
Caseworker: I would say that it is more legally secure, and that … there are so many details in this work. It’s about so many things … you apply for a cost here, and we approve a certain part of it, and the RPA helps to keep track of the correct cost […] So, it is more legally secure this way
AccountabilityInterviewer: Who is responsible for the decision made by [name of RPA]?
Caseworker: There is no signature on these [automatic] decisions. So, it is … (hesitates) the government as a whole who stands behind these decisions. I don’t think any of the bosses are assigned responsibility for these decisions. I don’t really know. But I don’t think so
EfficiencyInterviewer: What is the major benefit with the RPA?
Caseworker: A case manager handles around 5–8 cases per day that you have time to finish. […] So, there are perhaps 200–300 cases a day that are active. [name of the automatic case worker] stands for maybe 1/3 of the inflow of these cases. So, it is still, in terms of numbers, a couple of hundred thousand cases that that [name of the automatic case handler] completely handles. He is very quick!
ServiceInterviewer: Are there other benefits with the RPA?
Caseworker: better for the client who can write 24/7 – phone, letter, my messages, many more inflow channels. […] So, it’s good that they can write, because they can write anytime twenty-four-seven and they will get some kind of response from me
Codes inductively generated in transcript analysis
Relational workInterviewer: What is the major benefit with RPA?
Caseworker: But my hope, well my hope is that it will give me a little more space to maybe do those little extra things for the clients. Or like this – take that little extra meeting to check the situation or something like that. So, after all, we want to be there for, for the clients, sort of move them forward
DiscretionInterviewer: What is the major drawback with RPA?
Caseworker: Absolutely that you can automate certain things, but I think exactly this … Based on the legislation that we work with, it’s like we have to make individual assessments and that, yes, I think that you lose a little. Or it will be, it will be very difficult anyway

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