A review of the political nature of ICT in G2G integration: based on 3 cases from the geoICT domain

ABSTRACT

Government-to-government (G2G) integration requires cooperation between public agencies and different levels of Information and communication technology (ICT) interoperability. Often the technical levels of interoperability are considered value-neutral to the inter-organizational cooperation, but organizational political theory would suggest that once ICT becomes a major resource it will bring about power struggles. As a result, it will affect the behavior of the individual partners in the cooperation underlying G2G's. This organizational political nature was analyzed in three cases of G2Gs in the Netherlands, using a qualitative approach and a set of analytical concepts. All of these cases are from the geoICT domain, a subset of ICT, dealing specifically with handling and integrating geospatial data and related technologies. The role of ICT in G2G cooperation is compared through its relation to formal arrangements, perceived interests, command and control, coordination and change management. The degree of institutionalization of ICT usage and practices appears relevant for the G2G cases. This can be explained by the strategic behavior of organizations with regards to the image that the use of ICT creates for the environment on which they depend. There is evidence for the assumption that the role of ICT in G2G is political in nature, aiming to reinforce existing power balances. Further research on G2Gs needs to explicitly address how this political character affects of these balances.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management

General Terms:
Human Factors, Management, Performance

Keywords:
G2G, back office integration, cooperation, keywords GeoICT