ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on mundane digital technologies in public sector organisations, specifically delimited to the use of information systems in social work with vulnerable clients. The chapter begins by defining mundane technologies and reviewing a key discussion on the use of information systems in social work. The usage of digital technologies can have varied implications for vulnerable clients who receive public benefits and for social workers who work with such clients. For clients, implications can be e.g. further marginalisation and barriers to social participation; for social workers, implications can include increased emotional strain or the risk of reducing tacit knowledge in social work everyday practice. The chapter also offers an empirical example of how social workers use an information system, the digital CV tool, in their work with vulnerable clients in Danish job centres. The analysis demonstrates that the digitalisation of public services can make strategic choices available for social workers. The chapter's main argument is that mundane digitalisation holds an inextricable darkness because of its unremarkable and ordinary character which is often overlooked in favour of more exciting digital technologies. Bringing this argument to the foreground, the chapter concludes by offering implications for practice.
