Transforming City Governments Through IT

Abstract

City governments have implemented the use of technology in an attempt to enhance their service and operational capabilities. The efforts of the past were well intended, however, the disjuncture of these combined efforts have created “islands of information” within their administrative infrastructure. Many corporations today face similar issues that city governments do; decentralized IT infrastructure, dwindling cash flows, and overall operational inefficiency. For medium sized urban centers to have a chance for a brighter future it is absolutely imperative to effectuate change at all levels of city government. The kind of change necessary is not only in an operational capacity, but that of a culture shift as well. Information technology, when used appropriately, has the ability to be the catalyst for the kind of change required to resurrect communities.