IDPM Working papers
This Working Paper is part of the iGovernment Working Papers series
Centralised vs. Decentralised Management of Public Information Systems: A Core-Periphery Solution
Richard Heeks
Abstract
In dealing with information systems, public sector organisations have to cover eight main areas of responsibility: information systems planning, organisational structures and staffing, data management, computing and data management architecture, information systems development, information technology acquisition, training, and technical support. Adopting a centralised approach to these responsibilities can bring efficiency benefits, but requires some severe constraints to be overcome. Adopting a decentralised approach can help spread computing in the organisation, but is often wasteful. A 'core-periphery' approach to public information systems, combining both central and local action, is therefore recommended as being most effective. Details of such an approach are described within the paper.
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