MPA Major Research Papers

Date of Award

7-1-2016

Degree Type

Major Research Paper

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration

Program

Political Science

Supervisor

Irwin, Bill

Geographical Areas

Toronto, Peel Region, Oakville, Vancouver, British Columbia

Abstract

In recent years, both the public and private sectors have been using digital strategies, which represent an integration of business and technology plans in an organization. This paper investigates the early adoption of digital strategies in the public sector at the local government level using case studies for southern Ontario that focus on existing academic and practice-based literature, along with documented government adoptions of digital strategies to identify trends and issues. The findings support the private sector lessons and further indicate that there is little consistency in approach, methodology, or stage of digital strategy implementation within the public sector. Research also indicates that Canada has been slow to move forward on digital transformation in general.

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