Exploring Models for Enhancing Transparency in the Public Sector: A Scoping Review

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original research

Authors

1 Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Health Care Management, Health Policy and Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Transparency in government is essential for building trust, accountability, and democratic participation. By providing open access to data, governments can empower citizens, improve public services, and reduce corruption. Initiatives like open data portals enable public scrutiny of government actions, fostering informed decision-making and better policy outcomes. Transparency also drives innovation and ensures alignment with public interests. This scoping review examines strategies to enhance public sector transparency, focusing on stages, tools, actors, and challenges. Using a systematic search across six major databases from 2000 to 2024, data were analyzed with MaxQDA software to identify transparency components. Ten models (2012–2020) were categorized into three types: requirements, stage, and ecosystem models, each addressing transparency's multifaceted nature, reflecting the diversity and complexity of the subject. Requirements models identify key factors essential for transparency. Stage models advocate for gradual, phased improvements. Ecosystem models examine stakeholder interactions within transparency systems. This study focuses on the key components of existing frameworks, identifying and analyzing their common and distinctive elements to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the dimensions of transparency. In this review, transparency is conceptualized as a complex, multilayered, and dynamic phenomenon that requires careful consideration of institutional, managerial, and cultural mechanisms for its effective implementation. The findings of this scoping review offer practical insights for public institutions to reassess and enhance their transparency strategies by drawing on the experiences embedded in existing frameworks, thereby advancing toward more open, participatory, and accountable governance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Science and Technology Policy Letters

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 May 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 15 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 May 2025

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