Discuss why Public Sector Organisations may experience difficulties in developing an Information Systems Strategy. As part of your answer you should suggest solutions to the difficulties you discuss.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Perhaps start with a brief discussion (with examples) of 'what is a public sector organisation'?
stating issues relating to the public sector such as:
• Role and changes in the public sector as a result of information, digital and modernisation, etc:
• Service not 'profit' agenda
• Strategic relevance/impact
• Organisational culture
• Contingency
• Assimilating emerging technologies
o Technology transfer
o Integrating Changing Technology Platforms
• Sourcing policies
• Application development process
• Partnership of IT team, users, and general management
better students who consider 'But there is something unusual about the
Public Sector'. Guy [2000] states:
• Public agencies usually have a larger number of competing goals
• Public agencies operate under public scrutiny
• Public managers operate under fragmented authority structures
• Public organisations have more legal restrictions on their actions
• Public organisations have more restrictions on their staffing
o They cannot hire, fire, or promote as flexibly
10 marks for comparing and contrasting the points above, or others, with mainstream private sector examples. Where appropriate, the discussion should be related to the public sector examples as such as NHS, probation service, etc. Needs to relate to, and focus on, 'developing an ISS' and not only general differences between public/private sectors.
5 Marks for clearly (and appropriately) taking and 'tweaking' existing private sector dominated frameworks; benchmarking, use of consultants, etc. Need to suggest solutions for difficulties discussed.

Discuss Why Public Sector Organisations May Experience Difficulties in Developing