Social Media and the Networked Organization: Twitter and Intra-Police Communications

Do social media in the transform government organizations into post-bureaucratic organizations? Key features of post-bureaucratic organizations (1) horizontal coordination (with a focus on informal interaction patterns) and (2) fluid and permeable borders with its environment. To explore whether the use of social media transforms government organizations into more post-bureaucratic organization, the use of social media in police organizations is investigated and analyzed. On the basis of extensive empirical research into the use of Twitter by Dutch police officers and organizations, the paper shows horizontal patterns are strengthened through the use of social media but, at the same time, traditional organizational boundaries are still highly relevant for social media communication patterns. We conclude that the transformation of government organization to a post-bureaucratic form is much more incremental and layered than some information age gurus suggest