Removing barriers to implementing a corporate geographic information system : case study of the British Columbia Ministry of Forests
Date
1994
Authors
Miller, Christopher Robert
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Abstract
This study explores the challenge of implementing and using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in corporate natural resource agencies using the British Columbia Ministry of Forests as a case study. The study commences with an examination of impacts and general issues relating to the introduction and implementation of any new technology in a organizational setting, focusing especially on the management of change. The advent of GIS as a new technology for managing spatial data and associated information for natural resource inventory, routine management and decision making is introduced. General impediments to corporate installation of GIS are identified.
The B.C. Ministry of Forests has been struggling for some time with corporate GIS implementation and use. The thesis summarizes the history of GIS in the Ministry including a discussion of the Ministry's mandate, in addition to providing a detailed account of the Ministry's implementation initiative. This study also reports on a survey conducted with employees in the Ministry of Forests in an attempt to identify attitudes and expectations towards GIS, as well as perceived impediments to GIS implementation. Survey results reveal that the Ministry has failed adequately to plan and to prepare for implementation of GIS technology, that the ad hoc introduction of GIS technology in the Ministry ignored organizational and human resource issues, and that there was initial failure to recognise the technological challenges and data management issues related to GIS implementation and use. This thesis concludes with a set a recommendations and conclusions that can be used to enhance the implementation of GIS technology in an organizational setting.