Technology Management in Election Scrutiny in Colombia

Abstract

Technology—a fundamental factor for electoral processes—influenced the 2014 elections in Colombia, particularly the transparency of their electoral management. This article proposes Technological Management (TM) guidelines for election scrutiny, where the results of popular elections are defined. This study adopted a qualitative methodology with an interpretative approach to understand the object of study from a management perspective, which complements its legal and political foundations. It was divided into four stages. The first two stages were document and content analysis of current information sources on the election scrutiny in Colombia. Then, a SWOT analysis of the scrutiny was carried out. In the third stage, said analysis was used as the basis to propose TM guidelines for election scrutiny. In the fourth stage, the proposal was validated by experts. The SWOT analysis revealed weaknesses such as lack of control and outsourcing, which affect the integrity, transparency, and legitimacy of elections. There were also strengths in terms of availability of computer tools and quality certifications. The proposal comprises six stages: identification of technology needs for scrutiny transparency, selection of a technology roadmap, access to technology, protection, exploitation, and continuous improvement. It is concluded that—in processes such as election scrutiny—technology implementation should be connected to a systematic and strategic vision to guarantee transparency and contribute to electoral integrity. This proposal constitutes a roadmap towards a progressive implementation of transparency, traceability, security, and auditability measures. In accordance with modern regulations and management, it also seeks to mitigate historical deficiencies that have had critical effects and be a point of reference for the improvement and credibility of election management and democracy in Colombia.