Beyond Cost: Achieve Better Government Outcomes Through Shared Services

The perennial call for public sector reform has not slackened. The pain of austerity measures and the pressures for increased efficiency heighten that call. The need to address decrepit applications and infrastructure provides a great opportunity to do things differently. But the real driver is the need to focus energies and resources on business priorities. Pressures to improve citizen experiences through better service delivery, increased transparency, and ultimately a more efficient and effective government will push the adoption of the business technology agenda in government. As business technology (BT) priorities trump IT priorities, CIOs turn to shared services. This report examines the benefits of moving to shared services, addresses potential obstacles, and provides recommendations for navigating the change not only from a technology perspective but also keeping in mind the larger context of legislative obstacles, governance issues, and even political motivations.