Digital ecosystem of the Gob-digital scientific observatory: Methodological experience from web platforms to social networks

Abstract

The contemporary digital context is characterized by accelerated and dynamic changes as a result of technological development. Scientific advances in this area are notable, but new relationships from “the media” are affecting information and communication practices. The conception and design of observatories as an information system has not been exempt from this new reality. The purpose of this article is to examine and identify some principles and characteristics for this type of experiences. This objective also aims to determine the specificities of digital ecosystems for observatories. Theoretical elements about this type of systems are analyzed correspondingly. The research is descriptive and mixed in nature and uses among its methods and techniques: documentary analysis, content analysis, survey and the development of focus groups. As a result, a proposal for a digital ecosystem is presented for the Scientific Observatory of Digital Government of Cuba (OCGD). It also goes into depth about the specificities of the design and implementation of this type of initiatives in the media and information scenario. The web experience associated with scientific observatories requires new dynamics and mechanisms that aim to establish collaborative communities that focus their knowledge management from new digital spaces of information and communication.