| Drawing on materials from original case studies of private sector enterprise integration experiences, this dissertation explores and documents the antecedents of success and relates the findings to public policy. For the purposes of this study, enterprise integration is defined as the integration of processes across organizational and functional boundaries. Based on the high level of demand by private sector companies for commercial software applications that integrate data across business functions, it is clear that the private sector appreciates the importance of managing information across the functional areas of their enterprises. The applications provide “best practice,” software integrated reference models which are said to reduce cycle-time required for data to be made available to users anywhere within the organization. These improvements in information management across the enterprise provide “first adopter” competitive advantages, costs reduction benefits, and redistribution support to the core processes that provide the customer-focused products and services.; This research analyzes case studies from leading organizations. For each organization, the case study identifies the locus of leadership for enterprise integration. The roles, responsibilities, and interactions of the senior business executive(s), the chief information officer, and the line managers are seen as key factors in achieving integration. The study probes the ways in which each organization addresses the use of information as a strategic resource and incorporates that goal into strategic processes, and implementation planning. The ways in which the organization addressed performance measures for the integrated processes and the socio-technical aspects of integration are reviewed. Drawing on the key enablers and drivers of enterprise integration identified in the case studies, the dissertation probes the question of the likelihood of the public sector's imitating the private sector in enterprise integration. The possible impacts of national policies relating to improving government are considered, including strategic planning and performance measures for the use of information technology, as enacted in the Government Performance and Results Act (ITMRA). The need for additional public policy is addressed. |
