Effects of Information Technology on Policy Decision-Making Processes

Abstract

This study examined the effects of information technology (IT) on policy decision-making processes, especially in the stages of goal setting and choosing among policy alternatives. It used survey data collected in 1998 and 2005 from the metropolitan areas of Seoul and Busan in Korea. The survey results showed that there has been a positive change in the perception of the effects of IT on policy decision-making processes among government users. These changes could be made possible by strong leadership and e-government initiatives in central and metropolitan governments, not just due to the diffusion of technology and technologically capable staff members in organizations. The empirical results also showed that barriers to information sharing had increased in 2005 because of environmental changes, including requirement of authorization for providing information, complicated data management, and negative attitudes to information sharing. It suggests that city governments need to provide policy remedies for overcoming obstacles in information sharing in the areas of protection of privacy, network security, and official authorization processes for providing individual information. This study may contribute to the school of e-government and IT policy research as it helps decrease the gap between theory and practice.