Loading...

Information Systems and Public Sector Accountability

Increased accountability is a key component of public sector reform. This paper investigates the relationship between accountability and both information technology and information systems. It concludes that IT has had a very mixed impact, supporting accountability in some cases, but also skewing or...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: RICHARD HEEKS
Format: Printed Book
Published: Working Paper Series Paper No. 1 1998
Online Access:http://10.26.1.76/ks/001351.pdf
Description
Summary:Increased accountability is a key component of public sector reform. This paper investigates the relationship between accountability and both information technology and information systems. It concludes that IT has had a very mixed impact, supporting accountability in some cases, but also skewing or undermining it in others. Information systems - computerised or not - are an essential part of public sector accountability. However, new IS have a flexible impact, with accountability outcomes being determined mainly by management decisions and by wider organisational and environmental factors. As such, the broader context must be conducive to accountability before accountability IS initiatives will work.