An investigation of the factors that influence electronic information sharing between state and local agencies

Abstract

This study investigates the factors that influence local government participation in electronic information sharing with state agencies. Although electronic information sharing has the potential to help government agencies to increase productivity and performance, improve policy-making and provide better public services to the citizens, there is still little information available about the factors that antecede electronic information sharing between local and state agencies. Synthesizing the pertinent literature on interagency information sharing and well-established theories such as diffusion of innovations theory, critical mass theory and social exchange theory, this study proposes that local government participation in electronic information sharing with state agencies will be determined by electronic information sharing characteristics, agency characteristics, and environmental characteristics. This study employs both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. The first part of the study involves the collection and analysis of survey data from local law enforcement agencies to test the proposed research framework and hypotheses. The second part of the study involves the collection and analysis of qualitative data related to a major state-local electronic information sharing initiative to seek additional support for the findings of the quantitative data analysis, as well as identify factors that remained undiscovered in the quantitative analysis. The findings of these studies suggest that electronic information sharing characteristics, agency characteristics, and environmental characteristics, as well as other factors tend to influence local agency participation in electronic information sharing initiatives. The study has a number of theoretical and practical implications. It contributes to the state of the knowledge in the information systems, public administration and management domains. The findings of this study are important and relevant to federal, state and local government agencies and the directors and IT managers of these agencies. Once the factors that facilitate or hinder participation in electronic information sharing initiatives are identified, specific strategies can be developed to increase electronic information sharing among government agencies. Based on findings of the quantitative and qualitative studies, a preliminary set of strategies is offered, which could be potentially used to increase local agency participation in electronic information sharing initiatives.