Information Technology in Government: Britain and America (Routledge Research in Information Technology and Society, 2)

This book explores the huge impact of information technology on the governments of the UK and US over the last 20 years, examining computerization as a tool of government and major policy implications. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of tables......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 11 Introduction: information technology and a dream of the future......Page 14 Computerising the tools of government? The spread of information technology......Page 18 Innovation, expenditure and control: governmental responses to information technology......Page 48 Computerisation in the UK Benefits Agency......Page 69 Systems modernisation in the US Social Security Administration......Page 88 Computerisation in the US Internal Revenue Service......Page 106 Computerisation in the UK Inland Revenue......Page 126 New players: government contracting of information technology......Page 142 The ambiguous essence of the state of the future......Page 179 References......Page 204 Index......Page 221 Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of tables 9 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 11 Introduction: information technology and a dream of the future 14 Computerising the tools of government? The spread of information technology 18 Innovation, expenditure and control: governmental responses to information technology 48 Computerisation in the UK Benefits Agency 69 Systems modernisation in the US Social Security Administration 88 Computerisation in the US Internal Revenue Service 106 Computerisation in the UK Inland Revenue 126 New players: government contracting of information technology 142 The ambiguous essence of the state of the future 179 References 204 Index 221 Political Science & Government This book situates information technology at the centre of public policy and management. IT is now a vital part of any government organisation, opening new policy windows and enabling a vast range of tasks to be carried out faster and more efficiently. But it has also introduced new problems and challenges. Four in-depth case studies demonstrate how information systems have become inextricably linked with the core tasks of governmental organisations. The key government departments examined are:• the Inland Revenue Service and Social Security Administration in the US• the Inland Revenue and Benefits Agency in the UK This book explores the huge impact of information technology on the governments of the UK and US over the last 20 years. The author examines the major policy implications, focusing on 2 comparative case studies: social security and taxation Any consumer of newspapers, television, even of government documentation would know more about the potential for information technology in government than the reality. Helen Margetts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [187]-203) And Index.