**GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH**

PIA 2165 Dr. Louise Comfort

Spring Term 2002 Wednesday, 3:00-5:59 pm

Office Hours: 3R51 Wesley W. Posvar Hall

W 2:00-3:00; H 12:00-1:00 p.m. Tel.: 412-648-7606

and by appointment E-mail: lkc@pitt.edu

**Advanced Information Technology and Public Management**

Information technology is transforming the practice of policy making and
management in the public sector. Linking the capacity of advanced
information technology for search, processing, representation, and
interactive transmission of timely, accurate information to decision
processes on public sector problems creates new ranges of interaction,
coordination, conflict, and cooperation among organizations engaged in
public management and policy. It leads to the design and implementation
of sociotechnical systems that create a stronger capacity for
organizational monitoring, feedback, integration of multiple sources of
information, and learning in dynamic, complex environments. Such
technical capacity increases the ability of public managers to address
complex, interdependent problems such as seismic risk and hazardous
materials management, or social problems such as community health care
and economic development.

In this course, we will examine basic concepts of decision making among
interdependent organizations in public sector arenas, using four types
of advanced information technology: geographic information systems with
a brief reference to remote sensing and global positioning systems;
interactive communication via satellite and radio transmission;
intelligent reasoning by the computer from known data to possible
courses of action in future conditions; and evolving networks of
communication and information processes such as the Internet, World Wide
Web, and organizational intranets. Each of these technologies warrant
extensive study on their own terms. This course is an introduction to
these technologies and the ways in which they interact and can be used
to provide decision support for public management. We will explore them
as the technical means for supporting social decision processes in
designing and managing large, complex public programs. Designed and
implemented effectively, these technologies are vital components of
public programs viewed as sociotechnical systems.

We will first explore the conceptual framework of complex adaptive
systems that is central to understanding the role of information
technology in public management. Second, we will address a set of
technical systems that make up a community information infrastructure.
We will explore the concepts of geographic information systems and do
in-class work using this technology. We will review the technical design
of the Global Positioning System and its link to remote sensing and GIS.
We will study the process of network communications, such as the
Internet, the World Wide Web and organizational intranets, examining
briefly the strengths and weaknesses of the current state of this
technology and its impact upon organizational performance. We will
examine introductory concepts to intelligent reasoning by the computer,
and consider the ways in which this technology can provide decision
support to practicing policy makers and organizational work teams.
Finally, we will consider the requirements for governmental
organizations to manage and maintain advanced information technology to
support innovative, effective performance in public service.

Third, each student will design and carry out a specific sociotechnical
project that applies at least one, if not several, types of information
technology to a public policy or management problem. These projects will
be presented in class for review and comment by student peers. There
will be a mid-term and a final essay. Grades will be based upon the
mid-term (30%), sociotechnical project (40%), final essay (25%), and
class participation (5%). In the final essay, each student will be asked
to assess the utility of each technology for its contribution to public
management.

Reasonable proficiency in writing skills (grammar, spelling,
punctuation, use of paragraphs, appropriate citation of sources) will be
expected in your written work. Students are expected to honor GSPIA's
standards for proper citation of all sources used in the preparation of
their exams and written project reports. My office hours are: Wednesday:
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, 12:00-1:00 p.m; and by appointment.

The following books are required for the seminar:

Axelrod, Robert and Michael D. Cohen. 1999. *Harnessing Complexity:
Organizational Implications of a Scientific Frontier*. New York: The
Free Press.

Chrisman, Nicholas. 1997. *Exploring Geographic Information Systems*.
New York: John Wiley.

Coovert, Michael D. and Lori Foster Thompson. 2001. *Computer Supported
Cooperative Work: Issues and implications for workers, organizations and
human resource management*. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fountain, Jane E. 2001. *Building the Virtual State: Information
Technology and Institutional Change*. Washington, DC: The Brookings
Institution. ISBN 0-8157-0077-6. Paper.

Hoschka, Peter. 1996. *Computers as Assistants: A New Generation of
Support Systems*. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

National Academy of Public Administration. 2001. *The Transforming Power
of Information Technology.* ISBN: 1-57744-090-0. Price: \$30.00. (May
get educational discount for orders over 10.)

Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications. 2001.
*The Internet's Coming of Age*. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

ARCVIEW exercises will be made available in class. ARC VIEW software is
available in the University Computing Labs.

The following book and report are recommended for the seminar:

National Academy of Public Administration. 1995. *The Global Positioning
System: Charting the Future.* Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

*Global Positioning System Standard Positioning Service Performance
Standard*. 2001. Washington, DC: Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Communication, Coordination, Control and Intelligence. October
(Available for download from class directory).

[SCHEDULE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS]{.underline}

JANUARY

1/9: I. [Introduction to the Seminar]{.underline}

The Concept of Sociotechnical Systems

Discussion of course projects, requirements.

> Demonstration of a Sociotechnical System: IISIS

1/16: [II. Sociotechnical Systems in Managing Public
Information]{.underline}

A. A Conceptual Framework

Axelrod, R. and M. Cohen, *Harnessing Complexity*

1/23: B. The Technical Setting of GIS: Map Projections

Readings: Chrisman, N. *Exploring Geographic Information Systems*. Part
I, Chapters 1-3

ARCVIEW exercises.

Statement of sociotechnical problem due.

1/30: C. Development of a Spatial Data Base:

Spatial data analysis and operations: attributes, overlays, distance
measurement

Readings: Chrisman, N. *Exploring Geographic Information Systems*.Part
II. Chaps 4 - 6;

ARCVIEW exercises with students' data.

2/6: D. Implementing a GIS

Transformations: surfaces, neighborhood construction, transformations

> Readings: Chrisman, N. *Exploring Geographic Information Systems*.
> Part II. Chaps. 7-9.

ARCVIEW exercises with students' data.

Identification of source materials for analysis of sociotechnical
problem due.

2/13: III. [Geographic Information Systems and GPS]{.underline}

> A. Using a Global Positioning System with GIS
>
> *Global Positioning System Standard Positioning Service Performance
> Standard*
>
> Demonstration of a GPS receiver; exercises in determining locations
> via satellite positions.

2/20: B. Creating your own Data to Solve Social and Policy Problems

> Reading: Chrisman, N. *Exploring Geographic Information Systems*. Part
> III. Chaps 10-11.

ARCVIEW exercises with students' data.

Selection of technical means of analysis for policy problem due.

Mid-term exams handed out.

2/27: Mid-term exams due. In-class demonstration of IISIS prototype for
Pittsburgh Metropolitan Region.

3/6: SPRING BREAK!

3/13: IV. [Interactive Communications Technology and Public
Management]{.underline}

A. The Internet and its Impact upon Governmental Organizations

> Fountain. *Building the Virtual State: Information Technology and
> Institutional Change*.

Preliminary outline for project design due.

3/20: B. Maintaining the Internet as a Vehicle for Public Governance

National Research Council. Computer Science and Telecommunications
Board.

*The Internet's Coming of Age*.

3/27: V. [Intelligent Reasoning]{.underline}

> A. The Potential of Machines in Decision Support
>
> Hoschka, Peter. *Computers as Assistants: A New Generation of Support
> Systems*, Chapters 1-5
>
> Revised outline for project design due.

4/3: B. Creating Work Teams for Complex Problems

Coovert, Michael D. *Computer Supported Cooperative Work*.

Class discussion of problems/solutions encountered in project analyses.

4/10: VI. [The Role of Information Technology in Government]{.underline}

> National Academy of Public Administration. *The Transforming Role of
> Information Technology.*

4/17: In-class presentation of student projects.

Sociotechnical project papers due.

Final exams handed out.

4/24: In-class presentation of student projects.

Final essays due[.]{.underline}