Nick Bontis

The impact of information technology (IT) on government in the last five years has been profound. Using the governments of Canada and Ontario (both recognized as international leaders in the use of IT) as case studies, Digital State at the Leading Edge is the first attempt to take a comprehensive view of the impact of IT upon the whole of government, including politics and campaigning, public consultation, service delivery, knowledge management, and procurement. Using the concepts of channel choice, procurement market analysis, organizational integration, and digital leadership, this study explores the inter-relationships among all these aspects of the application of IT to government and politics. The authors seek to understand how IT is transforming government and what the nature of that transformation is. In the process, they offer an explanation of Canada's relative success, and conclude with practical advice to politicians and public servants about how to manage IT in government more effectively. Based on new and original research undertaken over the last five years, the findings of this intriguing study will be of interest to those studying or working in the fields of public administration, political science, and information technology.

This book adopts a knowledge-based perspective that sees the firm as a store of knowledge resources and capabilities. The firm's knowledge base includes the expertise and experience of individuals, the routine and processes that define the distinctive way of doing things inside the organization, as well as the knowledge of customer needs and supplier strengths. To the extent that the knowledge and capabilities are unique and difficult to imitate, they confer sustainable competitive advantage on the firm. Unlike traditional products, knowledge-based products and services can enjoy increasing returns, so the firm developing an early advantage has a better chance of growing market share through network externalities and customer familiarity effects.