IT model to guide government agencies in transitioning to smart government launched

By eGov Innovation Editors | May 1, 2011

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MASSACHUSSETS – IDC Government Insights  has introduced an information technology (IT) maturity model to help government entities assess their current level of compliance with Open Government initiatives and deliver services more effectively.

"Smart Government embraces processes that use smart technologies to deliver optimal citizen service," IDC Government Insights said. "Benefits include real-time citizen feedback and information sharing, as well as increased efficiency and responsiveness."

The model outlines how governments can progressively implement technology solutions for smart services and designed with different stages of IT maturity in mind.

The IDC study "Transcending Open Government to Smart Government" describes four increasingly integrated and productive stages of IT systems maturity -- Information Availability (stage 1), meaningful information (stage 2), purposeful action (stage 3) and smart government (smart 4).

"In Stage 1 of IT systems maturity, information transparency may take the form of "open data," in which a set of high-value data is made available to the public," IDC explained. "In Stage 4, information transparency is personalized to the point that citizens no longer need to "go and get" data from the government; rather, the government proactively pushes relevant, unique data to citizens based on their profiles."

IDC believes that government agencies will achieve smart government by implementing collaborative strategic plans that drive cross-agency investments and deployments in technology solutions.

"The technology investments and changes required in culture and processes should not be viewed as episodic, but rather as continuous progress toward better mission delivery. The maturation of government to the Smart stage requires systems, software, services and business processes that are connected and seamless," said Adelaide O'Brien, research director, United States Government Services Delivery at IDC Government Insights.