Information use in political decision-making: evidence from Italian regional politicians

Purpose This study aims to investigate how regional politicians in Italy use information in the decision-making process. It examines politicians' approaches to information and their link to its functions and purposes. It also maps the step-by-step process connecting information use to decision-making and the dynamics and elements characterizing it. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design based on 40 semi-structured interviews with regional politicians was adopted. The content of the interviews was analyzed through a thematic analysis. Findings Most respondents alternate between inductive and deductive approaches to information, with the former generally associated with purposeful use and the latter with instrumental use. Interactions with staff, experts and stakeholders emerge as a core component of the process, which unfolds through diverse step-by-step variants centered on information analysis. Research limitations/implications The study advances our understanding of politicians' information use by examining their approaches to information and how these approaches relate to the purposes and functions of information use. By adopting a step-by-step and interaction-focused perspective, the study also provides new insights into the process linking information use to decision-making. From a practical standpoint, it offers guidance for designing more tailored and context-sensitive systems to support political decision-making. Practical implications From a practical standpoint, it offers guidance for designing more tailored and context-sensitive systems to support political decision-making. Originality/value Unlike previous literature that mainly focused on information use's extent and purposes, this study provides an in-depth, process-oriented perspective on information use and decision-making. It focuses on the understudied context of the regional governments by considering not only accounting and performance information but also macroeconomic and socio-economic information.