Information Sharing Between and Within Governments

This research report presents the findings of an International Council for Information in Government Administration (ICA) study group. The project was set up in 1997 to explore ways of improving information sharing between and within Commonwealth governments, to help public sector managers provide a better service to their customers. The work explains the situations which create a need for information sharing and describes the benefits it offers. It also describes impediments to setting up an effective system, and makes recommendations for overcoming them. There are strategies for setting up a client-based system, based on actual experience. It covers issues such as: security and privacy issues; fiscal issues; political barriers; technological opportunities and barriers; increasing expectations for access to information; and the role of public support. Members of the international study group involved in this project were drawn from Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the USA.