Approaches A report entitled IT Leadership and Government Performance was released in 1996 by the Program on Strategic Computing and Telecommunications at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. The key finding of the study is that poor leadership on IT issues and initiatives is a significant drag on governmental performance. IT use has significantly improved the performance of leading private organizations. While its recent progress in using IT is perceived as satisfactory, government lags far behind the corporate sector in using IT for fundamental improvements.
Poor leadership is a key factor contributing to poor governmental IT use.
Study Recommendations Government general managers and political leaders need to become more directly and integrally involved in IT issues. Leaders need to reduce the substantial knowledge gap which now exists between general managers and IT managers. Leaders need to focus on selective high-leverage targets and activities. Delivering services and customer service via networks. Getting the word out to diverse stakeholders via improved communications.