Abstract
In this chapter, we explore the paper-based functional hierarchy (Mintzbergs’ machine bureaucracy) as one of the important origins of the administrative burden. In such a functional hierarchy, the knowledge of the professionals on the one hand and the information of the clients on the other are two important resources. Both resources need to be managed for the organization to be effective and efficient.
In the functional hierarchy the professional knowledge and the information of clients both are organized in stovepipes. Both resources have a low level of integration, intra-organizational as well as inter-organizational. We witness two trends. First, ICTs (‘classical ICT’ and internet technology) create an inter-organizational information infrastructure that is becoming interoperable. Second, professional knowledge is becoming modularized, with organizations starting to share their professionals and their knowledge in focusing on core competencies, outsourcing all other activities (and the relevant knowledge) and creating shared service centers.
This results in a radical transformation of organizations. This transformed organizational infrastructure can deliver integrated services, by pooling different modules into one service delivery value chain and reusing all relevant information that is readily available in the interoperable, inter-organizational information infrastructure. This transformation of the organization results in potentially high levels of reduction of the administrative burden, without reducing the number and the level of norms and regulations.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The terms ‘layers’ and ‘architectures’ are equivalents
- 2.
2 This section is based on research performed together with Marco Meesters (Zuurmond and Meesters, 2007).
References
Accenture, (2003), E-government leadership: Engaging the customer (www.accenture.com/xdoc/en/newsroom/epresskit/egovernment/egovepress.pdf)
Brüggemeier, M., A. Dovifat, and K. Lenk (2006), “Open Choice”: Improving public sector performance with process reorganization methodology, Berlin.
Cavaye, A.L.M., P. Mantelaers, W. Vd Berg, and A. Zuurmond (1998), 'Towards guidelines for the development and management of Transnational Information Systems', Australian Journal of Information Systems, 5(2), May, pp. 13–21.
European Commission, European Interoperability Framework for Pan-European eGovernment Services, Luxemburg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2004.
Gilley, K.M. and A. Rasheed (2000), Making more by doing less: an analysis of outsourcing and its effects on firm performance, in: Journal of management, Vol. 26, no. 4, 763–790.
Henderson, J., and N. Venkatraman (1992), “Strategic Alignment: A model for organizational transformation through information technology,” in T. Kochan & M. Unseem, eds, Transforming Organizations, Oxford University Press, NY.
Korsten, A.F.A. (2005), Shared Service Centers, een concept voor samenwerking tussen gemeenten, FAMO-jaarcongres.
Kubicek, H., and R. Cimander (2005), Interoperability in eGovernment, a survey of information needs of different EU stakeholders, in: European Review of Political Technologies, December 2005.
Lawrence, P., and J. Lorsch (1967), "Differentiation and Integration in Complex Organizations" Administrative Science Quarterly 12, 1–30.
Mintzberg, H. (1979), The Structuring of Organizations. Englewood Cliffs, N.J..
Monczka, R.M. (2004), Purchasing Excellence: Best practices from abroad and application in The Netherlands.
Nolan, R.L. (1973), Managing the computer resource: a stage hypothesis. in: Communications of the ACM. Vol. 16, pp. 399–405.
Nolan, R.L., and C.F. Gibson (1974), Managing the four stages of EDP growth. in: Harvard Business Review. Vol. 51, pp. 76–88.
Nolan, R.L. (1979), Managing the crisis in data processing. in: Harvard Business Review. Vol. 57, pp. 115–126.
OECD (2005), e-government for better government, Paris.
Opheij, W. and F. Willems (2004), Shared Service Centers: balanceren tussen pracht en macht, in: Holland Management Review, nr. 95.
Prahalad, C.K., and G. Hamel (1990), The core competence of the corporation, in: Harvard Business Review, may–june.
Schilling, M. (2000), Toward a general modular systems theory and its application to interfirm product modularity. Academy of Management Review 25: 312–334..
Smith, A. (1776), An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, in two volumes, W. Straham and T. Cadell, In the Strand, London, MDCCLXXVI first facsimile published in 1966 by Augustus M.Kelley Publishers, New York, New York, second facsimile printed by Sentry Press, New York, NY.
Strikwerda, H. (2006), Na het shared service center: de modulaire organisatie, in: Holland Management Review, jrg. 23, nr. 106, maart-apr, pp. 45–50.
Sturgeon, T.J. (2000), How do we define value chains and production networks?, Background paper prepared for the Bellagio Value Chains workshop, Bellagio, Italy.
Taylor, F.W. (1911), Principles of Scientific Management, Harper & Row, New York.
Weber, M. (1972), Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Tübingen.
Woodward, J. (1965), Industrial Organization: Theory and Practice. Oxford.
Wynstra, F. (2006), Inkoop, Leveranciers en innovatie: van VOC tot Space Shuttle. Rotterdam.
Zuurmond, A. (1994), De Infocratie, een theoretische en empirische heroriëntatie op Weber's ideaaltype in het informatietijdperk, (The infocracy, a theoretical and empirical reorientation on Max Weber's ideal type in the information age), Uitgeverij Phaedrus, proefschrift Rotterdam.
Zuurmond, A. (2003), De Verwaarloosde staat: pleidooi voor een Copernicaanse wending in het Openbaar Bestuur, Leiden.
Zuurmond, A., and M. Meesters (2007), ICT en de moderne Politieorganisatie, in: Rosenthal, U., E.R. Muller, C.J.F.J. Fijnaut (red.) Politie, studies naar haar werking en organisatie, Samson, Alphen aan de Rijn.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zuurmond, A., Robben, F. (2009). We Need to Dig a New Suez Canal: How Can ICT Help Changing Compliance Costs in the Next 20 Years?. In: Nijsen, A., Hudson, J., Müller, C., Paridon, K., Thurik, R. (eds) Business Regulation and Public Policy. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 20. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77678-1_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77678-1_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77677-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-77678-1
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)