Digital Information Network Technologies, Organizational Performance and Productivity
This Report investigates recent macro-level trends and micro-level trends patterns in the adoption and utilization of e-network technologies by analyzing a unique body of statistical data drawn from a 2003 survey of more than 1100 public sector organizations in eight European countries. Aggregate estimates are obtained for the current and projected extent of inter-organizational diffusion of network infrastructures and services, and networked applications. A taxonomy of "profiles" of e-network technology acquisition and deployment, describing distinct successive technological configurations is identified by cluster analysis of the detailed organization-level data. Study of the patterns of diffusion and of the distributions of various types of government and health sector organizations among those profiles (clusters) suggest the existence of a common trajectory of technology adoption and structural differentials in the pace at which various categories of government and health care organizations are proceeding in this regard. Results of regression analyses are presented, showing micro-level relationships between various configurations of e-network technology adoption and business process practices, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the reported rates of improvement in several dimensions of organizational performance --including average task productivity of employees and measures of citizen and client satisfaction. Addenda to the main body of the Report discuss methodological issues concerning the survey data, details of the statistical procedures used, and the derivation of estimates of the impact of projected technology diffusion on the aggregate rate of task productivity growth in Europe's public sector organizations.