Understanding the adoption and diffusion of innovative information technology curricula

Abstract

Information technology (IT) management training provided by Master of Public Policy or Administration (MPA) programs has evolved generally from software applications embedded in traditional public policy or management courses to dedicated courses on IT management or policy. However, the degree to which individual MPA programs have evolved varies. Literature in this field has focused on providing status reports on IT education in MPA programs and making curricular recommendations. Building on the foundation, this study tries to explain MPA programs' variation in IT management education by using institutional and resource characteristics of these programs. Data collected from 183 MPA programs in the U.S. show that program ranking and accreditation status appear to be significantly correlated to whether a MPA program has a concentration on IT management. This study will have implications for countries or localities that strive to improve public service by providing cutting-edge IT management training to future public managers. It will also help inform policy makers who would like to provide effective incentives to motivate programs to better IT management training. General TermsManagement, Human Factors, and Theory.

Conceptualizing Electronic Governance Education

“…Such programs are reported at the professional level e.g. in Italy [20], Lithuania [21], Sweden [22] and UK [23], at vocational level in Sweden [22] and China [1], and as part of public administration master programs in the US [25]. The question whether EGOV is a profession or occupation is addressed in [26], part of discussion about the future of the computing profession [27].…”

“…EGOV education is delivered by different types of institutions: universities working alone [28] or with federal [29] or local governments [22], ministries and technical institutions [20], government competence centers [19] [2], or international organizations working with national governments [30]. In a university, such programs can be hosted by public administration and policy [25][3], law [21], technology [4] [22] or other schools. For example, [22] outlines an innovative design of a master and vocational EGOV program in Sweden, based on feedback from municipalities, government agencies, trade unions and IT companies.…”

E-government education at the public administration departments in Turkey

“…Moreover, public administration graduates need to prepare today's challenges and uncertainty which globalization and information technology trigger [18]. Since public administration systems are largely affected from surrounding technologic environment and e-government initiatives on both organizational and political levels, it would be appropriate to suggest that public administration departments should have a leading role in developing information technology and e-government curricula or update existing programs according to the needs and requirements of public organizations and the societies at large [3] [4] [11] [17]. Thus, even before the emergence of the internet revolution, the importance of updating public administration programs to follow technological developments was emphasized by various writers, and the inadequacies in this field still remain problematic [10] [13] [15] [17].…”