Government information sharing: a model for classifying benefits, barriers and risks

Abstract

Government Information Sharing (Gov-IS) allows information exchange between different government agencies, as well as between public and private institutions. Sharing information enables enhanced efficiency -- by avoiding duplication of processes updating the same data; better quality of processes and services -- by removing inconsistent data and reducing error; and improved transparency -- by facilitating access to information. The implementation of Gov-IS initiatives requires different types of initiatives -- technical, organizational, institutional and political. In this work, we present findings of our research work studying Gov-IS benefits, barriers and risks. Our research relies on secondary data and case studies of Gov-IS initiatives implemented in four countries -- Australia, Estonia, New Zealand and USA. The main contribution of this paper is the multi-view classification of Gov-IS benefits, barriers and risks, and a detailed list of instances of such concepts, providing a comprehensive and benchmarking mechanism to understand, analyze and justify the planning and development of Gov-IS initiatives.