Improvement of the Organization of Information Services in Large Public Organisations

To enable better use of IT, investigation is done into how the IT function within the public sector should be organized. To start with, an analytical framework is developed. We then turn our attention to several different programmes and projects at Dutch departments of state, clustered to form three case studies, to see how they draw upon IT´s power to innovate in their own organization. In virtually none of these cases the IT function occupies a meaningful position. To change this improvements must be made in the organization of information services in such a way that it becomes possible to conduct programmes and projects in a more co-ordinated, multidimensional way and so to allow the IT function to assume a position of greater significance. Based on the necessary improvements three types of demands are formulated. To test this approach, we applied it at three pilots. Our experiences in applying the design framework resulted in the definition of four interferences and three conditions to create and enable the necessary changes. Based on the results of this research it can be argued that without these changes, it will be difficult - also on a longer term - to integrate IT innovation and policy renewal