Addressing coordination problems in information intensive processes for public management innovation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodological framework for assessing coordination in information intensive processes in a perspective of government innovation needs.

Design/methodology/approach

In the literature on e‐government most of the assessment efforts challenge mere technological issues, completeness of supplied services, and number of users “attracted”; we describe a methodological framework for addressing coordination problems in information‐intensive processes, explore the potential effectiveness of the proposed approach within an e‐government system managing authoritative procedures in Natural Parks, and finally discuss strengths and limitations of the methodology.

Findings

Provides the framework for testing the proposed methodology in developing land use permissions in natural parks.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology considers that governmental procedure are well monitored and known with respect to information flows, individual tasks and performances. The applicability of the proposed methodology in government processes can present some limitations when dealing with complex and inter‐institutional procedures whose information flows and roles are not clearly identifiable. Moreover, the methodology is dedicated to sequential procedures.

Practical implications

Although other and in some cases more complex methodologies are available to assess coordination, the suggested methodology is easy to be applied and needs information that is not difficult to be acquired. It provides support to improve the analyzed process as it estimates the coordination load involved by different ways to implement it.

Originality/value

The paper approaches the e‐government assessment problem focusing on the opportunity for the organization to learn about itself and producing organizational innovation.

Citation

Celino, A., Concilio, G., Pontrandolfo, P. and Scozzi, B. (2008), "Addressing coordination problems in information intensive processes for public management innovation", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506160810862937