Alan R. Shark

Students of public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management require a strong foundation in how government and NGOs are connected with information technology. Whether simplifying internal operations, delivering public-facing services, governing public utilities, or conducting elections, public administrators must understand these technological tools and systems to ensure they remain effective, efficient, and equitable. This innovative textbook is designed for students of public affairs at every level who need to know and understand how technology can be applied in today’s public management workplace. The book explores the latest trends in technology, providing real-life examples about the need for policies and procedures to safeguard technology infrastructure while providing greater openness, participation, and transparency.In Technology and Public Management, Second Edition, author Alan Shark informs, engages, and directs students to consider best practices, with new material on emerging technology, data management and analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This thoroughly updated second edition explores:A broad range of technologies on which government, nonprofit partners, and citizens depend upon to deliver important infrastructure, including security, education, public health and personal healthcare, transit and transportation, culture and commerce.Growing mistrust in government, and the role technology can play in ameliorating it.Emerging and adapted technologies to help government achieve ambitious goals, including drawing carbon out of the atmosphere, empowering students everywhere to learn effectively at home or at school, improving healthcare, providing affordable housing, enabling agriculture to keep pace with population growth, and improving scores of other public services.The critical insights and management skills needed to argue for investments in information technology as necessary priorities for our public organizations to improve public services and resources.This reader-friendly and jargon-free textbook is required for students enrolled in public administration and nonprofit management programs, as well as for practicing public administrators looking for a better understanding of how technology may be successfully and responsibly used in public organizations. It is equally valuable as a text for MBA studies, social work, education, public health, and other degree programs that produce graduates who will work with and within those organizations that deliver public services.

Students of public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management require a strong foundation in how government and NGOs are connected with information technology. Whether simplifying internal operations, delivering public-facing services, governing public utilities, or conducting elections, public administrators must understand these technological tools and systems to ensure they remain effective, efficient, and equitable. This innovative textbook is designed for students of public affairs at every level who need to know and understand how technology can be applied in today’s public management workplace. The book explores the latest trends in technology, providing real-life examples about the need for policies and procedures to safeguard technology infrastructure while providing greater openness, participation, and transparency.In Technology and Public Management, Second Edition, author Alan Shark informs, engages, and directs students to consider best practices, with new material on emerging technology, data management and analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This thoroughly updated second edition explores:A broad range of technologies on which government, nonprofit partners, and citizens depend upon to deliver important infrastructure, including security, education, public health and personal healthcare, transit and transportation, culture and commerce.Growing mistrust in government, and the role technology can play in ameliorating it.Emerging and adapted technologies to help government achieve ambitious goals, including drawing carbon out of the atmosphere, empowering students everywhere to learn effectively at home or at school, improving healthcare, providing affordable housing, enabling agriculture to keep pace with population growth, and improving scores of other public services.The critical insights and management skills needed to argue for investments in information technology as necessary priorities for our public organizations to improve public services and resources.This reader-friendly and jargon-free textbook is required for students enrolled in public administration and nonprofit management programs, as well as for practicing public administrators looking for a better understanding of how technology may be successfully and responsibly used in public organizations. It is equally valuable as a text for MBA studies, social work, education, public health, and other degree programs that produce graduates who will work with and within those organizations that deliver public services.

Technology is no longer the sole domain of an information technology office, as it has evolved into a growing set of complex tools that influence every area of government. To be effective, every public manager needs to be actively engaged in technology decisions. This textbook is designed for students of public administration at every level who need to know and understand how technology can be applied in todays public management workplace.

This a must-read for all managers seeking to better understand the latest trends and practices in the public technology field and how the issue of governance and technology leadership can best be addressed. Do not be fooled by the term "CIO Leadership" in the book's title, as this book is as much about public safety communication leadership as it is about technology and the evolving nature of governance. Technology, regardless of its sophistication, is nothing more than a set of tools requiring some form of leadership to take advantage of what it does and how it can be best used. Someone, however qualified and regardless of rank and title in the public safety organization or government structure, is in charge of technology. Many excellent books have been written about specific parts of public safety communications such as radios, interoperability, leadership, Next Gen 911, GIS, the integration of voice data and video systems, and even social media. Until now, no one book has attempted to look at the entire mix and provide a larger framework, from multiple authors, for better understanding the latest thoughts and trends in this critical area that affects millions of lives each day. Working with APCO International, Dr. Shark chose to focus on local governments as the primary innovator in this sector. After all, this is where innovation and experimentation takes place. The special foreword by Harvard University's Zach Tumin and William J. Bratton, former chief of police in Los Angeles and former Commissioner of Police in New York City and Boston, who together have authored their own book, "Collaborate or Perish", provides for an excellent framework for getting the most out of this book.