Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT Scholar Theses and Dissertations Student Graduate Works 6-2004 An Update on Analyzing Differences Between Public and Private Sector Information Resource Management: Strategic Information Challenges and Critical Technologies James R. Orlovsky Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.afit.edu/etd Part of the Management Information Systems Commons Recommended Citation Orlovsky, James R., "An Update on Analyzing Differences Between Public and Private Sector Information Resource Management: Strategic Information Challenges and Critical Technologies" (2004). Theses and Dissertations. 4097. https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/4097 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Graduate Works at AFIT Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AFIT Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN UPDATE ON ANALYZING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INFORMATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: STRATEGIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES AND CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES THESIS James R. Orlovsky, Master Sergeant, USMC AFIT/GIR/ENV/04M-17 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the United States Government. AFIT/GIR/ENV/04M-17 AN UPDATE ON ANALYZING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INFORMATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: STRATEGIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES AND CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES THESIS Presented to the Faculty Department of Systems and Engineering Management Graduate School of Engineering and Management Air Force Institute of Technology Air University Air Education and Training Command In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Information Resource Management James R. Orlovsky, BA Master Sergeant, USMC June 2004 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED AFIT/GIR/ENV/04M-17 AN UPDATE ON ANALYZING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INFORMATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: STRATEGIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES AND CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES James R. Orlovsky, BA Master Sergeant, USMC Approved: _________________________________ ________________ Alan R. Heminger, PhD (Chairman) date _________________________________ ________________ Kevin L. Elder, PhD (Member) date _________________________________ ________________ Capt David D. Bouvin, PhD (Member) date AFIT/GIR/ENV/04M-17 Abstract Change is a constant within our contemporary IRM environment. The rapid development of information and communication technologies has been the most predominant among the many agents of change that are forcing a reevaluation of the role of the IRM professional. Few studies to date have compared public and private sector CIO perceptions concerning the IRM challenges and critical technologies faced by their organization. An earlier study concluded that the sectors’ CIOs do perceive to be faced with many of the same challenges and also view many of the same technologies as critical to the organization’s operations. A limiting factor identified in that study was the temporal separation of sector sampling. Any conclusions comparing the public and private sectors were based on survey responses separated by almost one year. The goal of this research is to validate if public and private sector senior IRM managers perceive to still be faced with the same challenges and view the same technologies as being critical to an organization’s IRM requirements. The results of a 2002 annual survey of public sector CIOs and senior IRM managers are compared with data collected from 2002 private sector CIOs. This research concluded that performing an analysis on datasets obtained from both sectors during the same time period provided a more appropriate comparison between sectors. Findings from this study provide sufficient evidence that both sectors have developed a closer correlation than was previously concluded. iv AFIT/GIR/ENV/04M-17 In memory of my Father. Rest in peace Dad. v Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my faculty advisor, Dr. Alan Heminger, for his guidance, patience, and support throughout the course of this thesis effort. You are wise beyond your years. I would also like to thank LtCol Summer Bartczak, for her flawless leadership and fortitude. Your periods of classroom instruction were some of the most stimulating I have had the pleasure to witness. Special thanks go to Dr. Kevin Elder and Capt David Bouvin, readers of this research effort. The future of AFIT’s GIR program is well in hand with superb individuals such as these men. To my fellow AFIT Marine pioneers—thanks for your support and help. It was an honor to serve with you all. Thank you to my wife and best friend, for your patience and understand once again vi Table of Contents Page Abstract.............................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures.................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... x I. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Overview........................................................................................................................1 Background .................................................................................................................... 3 Problem Statement ......................................................................................................... 5 Research Focus .............................................................................................................. 6 Thesis Overview ............................................................................................................ 7 II. Literature Review...........................................................................................................9 Overview........................................................................................................................9 Underlying Differences in Public and Private Sectors................................................. 11 The Generic Approach ................................................................................................. 12 The Core Approach...................................................................................................... 13 The Dimensional Approach ......................................................................................... 15 Public Versus Private Sector Management Information Systems................................ 17 Examining Differences Between Public and Private Information Management Practices ....................................................................................................................... 20 Competition and Perceived Importance of Information Systems ................................ 24 The Chief Information Officer..................................................................................... 29 CIO Best Practices ....................................................................................................... 31 CIO Challenges ............................................................................................................ 35 Research Focus ............................................................................................................ 40 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 41 III. Methodology............................................................................................................... 43 Overview...................................................................................................................... 43 Approach...................................................................................................................... 44 Research Approval....................................................................................................... 45 Population .................................................................................................................... 45 Survey Instrument ........................................................................................................ 46 Data Collection Method ............................................................................................... 51 Pilot Study.................................................................................................................... 51 Survey Modification..................................................................................................... 51 Survey Administration ................................................................................................. 55 vii Page Data Analysis ............................................................................................................... 55 Spearman’s Rho Correlation.......................................................................................