Collaborative government services: Building for the future Government leaders used to ask: should we collaborate? They now ask: how will we collaborate? The needs for collaboration are clear. The global economic and political events of 2001 have strained governments. Lower revenues have shrunk program funding. Increased security and antiterrorism initiatives require innovative solutions and larger budget allocations. Yet, citizens and businesses increasingly expect convenient, customized services, similar to what they receive in the private sector. In addition, government employees are leaving—taking with them institutional knowledge. The problems are clear. The resolutions are complex. To read more about Collaboration click here Operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness: How do state and local government initiatives measure up? To better understand the relationship between government initiatives and operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness benefits, IBM, in cooperation with the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, conducted a study in October and November 2002. A total of 412 U.S. government professionals (primarily state and local government representatives) participated in a Web-based survey and rated various initiatives on operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness. Additionally, interviews of decision-makers – representing business and technology leaders from a cross section of government departments, such as tax, social, public safety and “e-government” – supplemented the survey results. To read more about Operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness click here Optimization of information to improve decision making in government: The information value chain way Government leaders face a wide spectrum of strategic pressures. A balance must exist between long-term economic and social development, while filling near-term community and citizen needs. Seamless, personalized government services are demanded along with supporting information privacy and enhanced security features. Operational pressures to maintain public assets and infrastructure efficiently must coexist with the loss of skilled human resources and heightened demands for convenient and quick services. Information lies at the nexus of these decisions. More specifically, having the right information at the right time to make the right decision is essential. To read more about Optimization click here | 
