Skip to main content

Digital Capability Assessment for eGovernment: A Multi-dimensional Approach

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 4084))

Abstract

Capability assessment can play an important role in the digital government domain in at least two ways: one is to provide a basis for judging whether agencies are ready to initiate some digital government innovation, and the other is to judge the impact of a digital government initiative in terms of improved capabilities. The problems of how to assess and enhance organizational capability are therefore central to virtually all efforts to improve government performance, particularly in the area of information technology innovation. This paper describes the approach used in developing a set of toolkits for use in assessing capability, with examples from versions developed for use in justice information integration projects and state-level digital preservation planning in the US. The paper includes the theoretical rationale for the design of the toolkits, methods for their use, and implications for use in practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Segars, A.H., Grover, V.: Profiles of Strategic Information Systems Planning. Information Systems Research 10, 199–232 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. U.S.Government Accountability Office, Information Technology Investment Management: A Framework for Assessing and Improving Process Maturity. GAO, Washington (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Williamson, O.E.: Strategy research: governance and competence perspectives. Strategic Management Journal 20, 1087–1108 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cresswell, A.M., Pardo, T.A., Canestraro, D.S., Dawes, S.S., Juraga, D.: Sharing Justice Information: A Capability Assessment Toolkit, Center for Technology in Government, Albany, NY (November 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pardo, T.A., Cresswell, A.M., Dawes, S.S., Burke, B., Dadayan, L., Embar, S., Kwon, H.: Building State Government Digital Preservation Partnerships: A Capability Assessment and Planning Toolkit, Center for Technology in Government, Albany, NY (August 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lyytinen, K., Robey, D.: Learning failure in information systems development. Information Systems Journal 9, 85–102 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldstein, H.: Who Killed the Virtual Case File? IEEE Spectrum 42 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Orlikowski, W.J.: Using Technology and Constituting Structure: A Practice Lens for Studying Technology in Organizations. Organization Science 11, 404–428 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lyytinen, K.: Empirical Research in Information Systems: On the Relevance of Practice in Thinking of IS Research. MIS Quarterly 23, 25–27 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Luna-Reyes, L.F., Zhang, J., Gil-Garcia, J.R., Cresswell, A.M.: Information systems development as emergent socio-technical change: A practice approach. European Journal of Information Systems 14, 93–105 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hirschheim, R., Klein, H.K., Lyytinen, K.: Information Systems Development and Data Modeling: Conceptual and Philosophical Approaches. Cambridge University Press, New York (1995)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Boudreau, M.C., Robey, D.: Enacting Integrated Information Technology: A Human Agency Perspective. Organization Science 16, 3–18 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Richardson, G.B.: The Organization of Industry. Economic Journal 82, 883–896 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Penrose, E.T.: The Theory of the Growth of the Firm. Oxford University Press, New York (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Helfat, C.E., Raubitschek, R.S.: Product sequencing: Co-evolution of knowledge capabilities and products. Strategic Management Journal 21, 961–979 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kogut, B., Zander, U.: What firms do? Coordination, identity, and learning. Organization Science 7, 502–518 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. VandeVen, A.H., Poole, M.S.: Methods for studying innovation development in the Minnesota innovation research program. Organization Science 1, 313–385 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Pardo, T.A., Cresswell, A.M., Dawes, S.S., Burke, G.B.: Modeling the Social & Technical Processes of Interorganizational Information Integration. Presented at Hawaiian International Conference on System Sciences Hawaii (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Barki, H., Rivard, S., Talbot, J.: An Integrative Contingency Model of Software Project Risk Management. Journal of Management Information Systems 17, 37–69 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Paulk, M.C., Weber, C.V., Curtis, B., Chrissis, M.B.: The Capability Maturity Model: Guidelines for Improving the Software Process. Addison Wesley, Reading (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Averill, E.: Reference Models and Standards. StandardView Archive 2, 96–109 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lave, J., Wenger, E.: Situated learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wenger, E.: Communities of Practice Learning, Meaning, and Identity. Cambridge University Press, New York City (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Thompson, M.: Structural and Epistemic Parameters in Communities of Practice. Organization Science 16, 151–164 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Giddens, A.: The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. University of California Press, Berkeley (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Levina, N., Vaast, E.: Competence in Practice: Implications for Implementation and Use of Information Systems. MIS Quarterly 29, 335–363 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bourdieu, P.: The Logic of Practice. Stanford University Press, Stanford (1980) (translated 1990)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Rose, J., Jones, M.: The Double Dance of Agency: A Socio-Theoretic Account of How Machines and Humans Interact. Systems, Signs & Actions 1, 1937 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Shapiro, S.P.: Agency Theory. Annual Review of Sociology 31, 26384 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Eisenhardt, K.M., Martin, J.A.: Dynamic capabilities: what are they? Strategic Management Journal 21, 1105–1121 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Dutta, S., Narasimhan, O., Rajiv, S.: Conceptualizing and Measuring Capabilities: Methodology and Empirical Application. Strategic Management Journal 26, 277–285 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Cockburn, I.M., Henderson, R.M., Stern, S.: Untangling the origins of competitive advantage. Strategic Management Journal 21, 1123–1145 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Raff, D.M.G.: Superstores and the evolution of firm capabilities in American bookselling. Strategic Management Journal 21, 1043–1059 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Rosenbloom, R.S.: Leadership, Capabilities, and Technological Change: The Transformation of NCR in the Electronic Era. Strategic Management Journal 21, 1083–1103 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Sosa, M.E., Eppinger, S.D., Rowles, C.M.: The Misalignment of Product Architecture and Organizational Structure in Complex Product Development. Management Science 30, 1674–1689 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Provan, K.G., Milward, B.H.: A preliminary theory of interorganizational network effectiveness: A comparative study of four community mental health systems. Administrative Science Quarterly 40, 1–34 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Heclo, H.: A Government of Strangers: Executive Politics in Washington. Brookings Institution, Washington (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Zhang, J.: Expectations and perceptions of benefits and barriers in public sector knowledge networks. Public Performance & Management Review (forthcoming)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Rethemeyer, R.K.: Conceptualizing and Measuring Collaborative Networks. Public Administration Review 65, 117–121 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Pouloudi, A., Whitley, E.A.: Stakeholder Identification in Inter- Organizational Systems: Gaining Insights for Drug Use Management Systems. European Journal of Information Systems 6, 1–14 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Cresswell, A.M., Pardo, T.A., Canestraro, D.S. (2006). Digital Capability Assessment for eGovernment: A Multi-dimensional Approach. In: Wimmer, M.A., Scholl, H.J., Grönlund, Å., Andersen, K.V. (eds) Electronic Government. EGOV 2006. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4084. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11823100_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11823100_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-37686-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-37687-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics