Digital State at the Leading Edge

The impact of information technology (IT) on government in the last five years has been profound. Using the governments of Canada and Ontario (both recognized as international leaders in the use of IT) as case studies, Digital State at the Leading Edge is the first attempt to take a comprehensive view of the influence of IT on the whole of government, including areas such as political campaigning, public consultation, service delivery, knowledge management, and procurement.Exploring the concepts of channel choice, procurement market analysis, organizational integration, and digital leadership, this study looks at the inter-relationships among various aspects of the application of IT to government and politics. The authors seek to understand how IT is transforming government and what the nature of that transformation is. In the process, they offer an explanation of Canada's relative success, and conclude with practical advice to politicians and public servants about how to manage IT in government more effectively. Based on original research undertaken over the last five years, the findings of this innovative study will be of particular interest to those studying or working in the fields of public administration, political science, and information technology.

Sandford Borins is a professor in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto at Scarborough. Kenneth Kernaghan is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Brock University. David Brown is a senior associate at the Public Policy Forum in Ottawa, and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University. Nick Bontis is an associate professor at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Perri 6 is a professor in the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University.