This case is designed to help structure an in-class discussion in which students probe various outcomes, issues and problems that can arise with the introduction of IT in the schools of the Black River School District. The case is a first introduction to the issues of information technology and public agencies.

Students are instructed to write a focused decision memo that responds to the issues raised in the class discussion for Part I of the case study. Students are required to become familiar with a suite of practical tools for examining these problems and making recommendations to the superintendent of schools.

This case starts with a highly publicized suicide problem in state prisons. Students are asked to assume the role of Sue Miller, an assistant to the Commissioner of Mental Health Services. In that role they must draft a memo outlining a suicide prevention program that takes advantage of information sharing between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Mental Health Services. The case introduces students to various technical, managerial and policy level issues related to information sharing in public agencies.

The case study presented here depicts a technology that does not actually exist. Consideration of the hypothetical technology and its capabilities creates important dynamics among managers, private vendors, political leaders, employees, subordinate jurisdictions and unions. The details of the case situation give students a perspective on many real organizational and information management issues related to the introduction of new technologies in public agencies.

As part of a database design exercise, students take on the role of an administrative assistant to Georgette Richmond, the new Chair of the Public Policy Department at Upstate University. Students have to prepare a decision memo that helps the Chair examine the existing information systems and evaluate the option of adopting a new student records system. This case emphasizes the development of analytical skills required to understand the technical, organizational, and policy issues associated with the adoption of new information systems in public agencies.