Assessing integrated information systems as a strategic tool to support sustainable development in british local government: the geographic information systems (Gis) case

摘要

Local authorities’ engagement in local sustainable development initiatives has been focused in separate ways including just one or two out of the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – but not all together.The work reported here adopts a qualitative research approach and case study methodology. Four different case studies were selected according to their stage of development using GIS to support local government’s functions. These case studies serve as a means of understanding the fundamental reasons for the GIS adoption at local level as well as the implications and impact of this technology at organisational level. While the study suggests that a formal policy or a GIS corporate strategy are the starting points, resources and GIS experience, continuity and expertise are crucial when evaluating success and failure, outcomes and results. The work reported here concludes that, to engage local authorities in GIS, middle and long-term partnership and networking initiatives appear to be critical, as well as the fundamental issue which considers not just (1) the adoption of a technological framework, (2) a planning framework and (3) a data provision framework but also (4) a periodic process of GIS measurement in the search for best practices as well as a cross-sector approach to local sustainable development.