The problems and opportunities an organization encounters often transcend its jurisdictional boundaries. Consider the effects on one organization of poor water quality, natural disasters or disease produced in an adjacent jurisdiction. But benefits also accrue. Clearly, one county often benefits when spatial data are used to recruit new industry to an adjacent county. Jobs, spinoff markets for local manufacturers as well as new clientele for trade schools, cultural institutions and commercial establishments are just a few of the benefits to adjacent counties.
Any organization is better off when the entire enterprise is successful.
For example, every state and community in America has benefited, at least indirectly, from the interstate highway system, which is another component of the nation's infrastructure. It has enhanced our national defense, our access to goods and services and our economic competitiveness. Decisions invariably are going to be made at a higher level that affect an organization and its neighboring organizations. Some decisions affecting an organization, such as the reallocation of federal tax dollars to state and local governments, are determined by ranking an organization with its counterparts. Clearly it is advantageous when an organization's more accurate data are used in comparative analyses leading to these decisions.