Title: Understanding IT governance for the operation of shared services in public service networks

Authors: Marijn Janssen, Anton Joha

Addresses: Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, NL-2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands. ' Morgan Chambers, Joop Geesinkweg 901–999, 1096 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: Public organisations have started cooperating in public service networks to share services and in this way improve their service provision and simultaneously accomplish efficiency gains. The IT governance of shared services in a service network is a complicated endeavour, as it often involves multiple agencies having different objectives, resources, capabilities, processes and levels of IT sophistication. The aim of this research is to develop a better understanding of the IT governance of shared services in public service networks. Two case studies are analysed from a resource-based and a dynamic capability point of view. We found that IT governance mechanisms need to deal with the different characteristics of agencies and to balance customisation and commoditisation of services to accomplish efficiency benefits. The findings also indicate that the ability to share services in public networks and the accomplishment of the objectives of individual agencies within the network are influenced by the type of IT governance mechanisms.

Keywords: e-government; shared services; shared service centre; SSC; electronic intermediaries; IT governance; resource-based view; RBV; dynamic capabilities; public services networks; networking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2007.012080

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2007 Vol.4 No.1, pp.20 - 34

Published online: 19 Jan 2007 *

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