Managing information technology : a corporate information systems strategy for the City of Winnipeg

Abstract

This study examines the issues involved in managing information technology in local government, using the City of Winnipeg as its central focus. The objective of the study is to develop a number of policy recommendations for the city's corporate information systems strategy. Two of the major issues facing the City are the fast pace of information technology change and end-user computing. These issues are highlighted by examining the organizational impact of microcomputers, which forms the principal focus of the thesis. In addition, current literature on managing information technology, data integration, and centralized versus decentralized computing are also examined. The policies of other municipal jurisdictions, as well as the current policies of the city of Winnipeg, either stated explicitly in documents, or implied through action, are investigated. This study concludes by recommending a policy of distributing data processing and a stronger departmental role in managing information technology.