2.1

Abstract: Despite big budgets, political endorsement, and formal frameworks for information policy, technology, and management, government IT projects continue to falter or fail. This paper argues that public management education must include information strategy and management topics as core concerns. MPA programs should be teaching the next generation of public managers to appreciate how deeply embedded IT is in every aspect of government—and to appreciate their own roles and responsibilities with respect to it. The paper reviews practical experience and academic research on information systems in government and identifies five kinds of competencies that are most needed to
build successful information strategies and systems in the public sector. These include strategic thinking and evaluation, system-oriented analytical skills, information stewardship, technical concepts, and complex project management skills. The article concludes with a variety of approaches for bringing these
competencies into the Master of Public Administration curriculum.

2.2

Abstract: Between 1991 and 1993 the Public Administration department at the Rockefeller College, University at Albany collaborated in the creation of the Center for Technology in Government (CTG), a research and development center devoted to advancing the theory and practice of information strategy andgovernment in the public sector. Since that time, we have experimented with ways to implement the lessons learned from the CTG research agenda into our curriculum, especially at the MPA level. The paper describes a three tier approach to such a curriculum. The first tier consists of core courseware
required of every MPA student passing through our program. The second tier is anchored by a multi-course sequence based on lessons, theories, and case studies drawn from CTG’s research. The third tier represents a suite of course offered across the University at Albany with broadly focused offerings in
information management, information policy, and in information technology.

Abstract: Information technology decisions are among the most complex and expensive decisions government managers make, yet few MPA include courses to prepare public managers for this responsibility. This paper presents the approach used in one course offered as part of the University at Albany’ highly ranked information Strategy and Management Program. This course focuses on the critical role of contextual knowledge in the success of information technology investments and orients students to the range of competencies necessary to build successful information systems including strategic thinking and evaluation, system–oriented analytical skills, information stewardship, technical concepts and complex project management skills. This paper presents the frame of reference for the course and an overview approach to building these competencies in MPA students. A semester long, team-based field project provides students the opportunity to learn first-hand about the management, policy and technology challenges facing public managers within specific contexts as they seek to make technology investment decisions. Students work directly with a government partner to produce a business analysis of a selected public service problem.