Title: Achieving business process change in the public sector: revolution or evolution?

Authors: Martin Hughes, William Golden

Addresses: Department of Accountancy and Finance, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. ' Department of Accountancy and Finance, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between intranet technology and business process change (BPC) using case studies conducted in two Irish public sector hospitals. The management method used in the two case studies was diametrically opposed – one chose an evolutionary implementation, while the other commenced from a revolutionary strategic perspective. Given the unique characteristics of public sector organisations, this paper proposes that evolutionary based development is better positioned to achieve BPC using intranet technology. This is due to the fact that cultural acceptance of the technology is a critical success factor in public sector organisations due to their individual departmental structures.

Keywords: intranets; business process change; public sector; Ireland; healthcare; hospitals; change management; organisational change.

DOI: 10.1504/EG.2004.005175

Electronic Government, an International Journal, 2004 Vol.1 No.2, pp.152 - 165

Published online: 09 Sep 2004 *

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