From Digital Exclusion to Inclusion: Navigating a Policy for Digital Inclusion of Elderly within a Municipal Administration

This article provides new insights into the realization of digital inclusion policies forthe elderly within municipal administration. Drawing on a case study of a Swedishmunicipality and guided by practice theory, the study highlights key characteristics of the policy’s realization process. The findings reveal that navigating a digitalinclusion policy within a municipal organization is inherently challenging. Such policies often lack clear problem definitions and predefined solutions, and their crosssectoral nature complicates integration into a single administrative department.The primary contribution of the article is its demonstration of how theories oncross-sectoral policy areas can provide a knowledge base for understanding andaddressing the challenges of policy realization. This contribution is particularly relevant for a research field often described as theoretically underdeveloped. By linking practice theory with cross-sectoral policy studies, the article highlights howpublic administration can better navigate and support digital inclusion initiativesfor elderly populations.