Cloud computing and Public Administration

Abstract
This essay will cover information systems and decision-making in public organizations. Information systems management has become part of the decision-making process in the public sector. Public organizations have begun utilizing information systems management in order to provide the statistics and information needed to generate decisions quickly while also maintaining a level of informed policy that allows for evolution of public organization decision-making in today’s world. Although there has been some resistance to the changing of how decisions are made, big data for example, can be a new way to aggregate many forms of data and present it in an easy-to-absorb manner for informed decision-making in public organizations.
Introduction
Public organizations have evolved in recent years. They have developed ways to cope with fast decision-making through use of information systems. Information systems management gained importance in the public sector because of the mounting pressure on these organizations to perform (Karim, 2011). Statistics and other valuable data can be analyzed and presented to decision-makers allowing for quick response time and fast implementation of policy. This however, was not always the case.
Before the push towards information systems, decision-making in public organizations relied on written reports and interviews (Karim, 2011). Although these things are still pertinent today, they are transformed into usable and easily absorbed that proves more effective than regular paper methods. The rise of information systems comes as public organizations have begun to rely less on traditional methods and more on the ability of allowing people the access needed to quick and effective analysis of data, yielding better decision-making outcomes. This essay will focus on the background of information systems and decision-making in public organizations and how information systems can be used specifically, to improve the already evolving decision-making process.
The selected recommendation involves the use of cloud services to create an easy to access means of collecting and distributing information. Cloud services are a recent innovation thanks to the increase storage capabilities seen in the last decade and the improvement in online services (Chang, Walters, & Wills, 2015). These improvements have produced a quick and effective means of data exchange without the worry of compromising security. Although there may be some additional concerns over data breach, thanks to cloud services, big data usage can increase in public organizations and may lead to more innovations in the pursuit of informed decision-making.
Background
The roots of information system in public organizations is in the formation and use of management information system. Back then in the late 90’s, there was a desire to create free and easy exchange of data between governmental organizations. Because that information can be seen as power, that information needed to be made available, but also safeguarded to avoid any problems. Therefore, several agencies preferred to maintain autonomy over such information. For instance, job training agencies had to assess state’s job training programs, and needed the data from several state agencies to do so. “However, despite obtaining verbal agreements from the top managers of the agency, the lower level programming staff delayed the sharing of data for months” (Garson & IGI Global, 1999, p. 30).
With the lack of security features and convenience for data exchange, public organizations began to implement management information systems to allow them access to the data needed to generate informed decision-making. Without this kind of management of data, it would be difficult today to perform some of the necessary functions in organizations because of the extra processes that were needed before implementation of information systems that made decision-making slow and tedious. Therefore, information systems allowed people to improve their decision-making abilities due to time and convenience.
Information systems also improved thanks to the use of the internet (Garson & IGI Global, 1999). The internet provided a means of exchanging and sending data that was fast, convenient, and led to further innovations. The internet helped bring a revolution in decision-making thanks to the expansion of information systems (Garson & IGI Global, 1999). It continued throughout the years and has evolved into what it is today. Today, information systems has cross over to introducing cloud service applications to allow even greater ease with information exchange.
Importance of the Issue
The decision-making process involves use of information that can lead to constructive and divisive assessment. Although some data can lead to improved and effective evaluation, other data may not. It is important to realize that different kinds of data may be non-necessary in relation to decision-making, especially regarding public organizations that may not require measures to assess profitability. One article highlights the differences between data and how training and management ability can lead to specific decision-making outcomes.
The findings indicate that two SPMS components, namely, the importance of non-financial performance measures and the use of operational efficiency measures, have significant positive associations with performance information use for strategy implementation and strategy assessment decisions. The extent to which SPMS models were used is found to be positively associated with performance information use for strategy implementation, but not for strategy assessment, decisions. Furthermore, the relationships between SPMS variables and strategic decision making are moderated by information systems/data limitations and management’s commitment to attaining strategic goals (Abdel-Maksoud, Elbanna, Mahama, & Pollanen, 2015, p. 528).
Decision-making outcomes have become heavily reliant on data that can be accessed, evaluated, analyzed, and transmitted quickly. Information systems allows for the delivery of that information quickly and permits performance to be easy thanks to software and hardware made to collect and examine data without complex and tedious calculations. Software can create outcomes and statistical data presentations quickly and easily through formulas, giving the option of presenting the analyzed information in colorful charts and graphs (Abdel-Maksoud, Elbanna, Mahama, & Pollanen, 2015). It is thanks to these innovations that decision-making can grow into what it needs to be now. If information systems do not continue to improve and public organizations do not continue to adopt new methods, decision-making could lag due to lack of available resources and applications to make the process of data collection and analysis easier.
Discussion of Possible Solutions
Cloud computing services in public organizations is a growing trend. Researchers aim to identify what can make cloud computing services more feasible regarding decision-making. One article had modeling results that demonstrated user behaviors and intentions that were mainly influenced by a cloud service’s perceived features. “Also, these features were found to be the significant antecedents of cloud computing usefulness and ease of use. The findings should guide governments' promotion of cloud public services to increase user awareness by enhancing usability and appeal and ensuring security” (Shin, 2013, p. 194). This is an interesting gap in literature that may show how important it is to identify potential problems concerning new technology adaptation. If cloud computing seems difficult for some users thanks to lack of certain features, implementation of these changes in public organizations may be harder.
It is important for users to get used to using cloud computing services because budgets for these public organizations have decreased over the years. Cloud applications allow for the required processes needed for informed decision-making at a lower cost. With the United States Government facing continued reductions in ICT budgets and an increased demand for electronic services, the solution seems to continuously point to cloud computing. “One solution announced aggressively by vendors is cloud computing. Cloud computing is not a new technology, but it is a new way of offering services, taking into consideration business and economic models for providing and consuming ICT services” (Diez & SIlva, 2013, p. 66).
Such solutions can be seen in the recent Obamacare health insurance portal. People can upload their documents for insurance applications directly to the website and avoid a lot of the overhead cost of sending documents through the mail. These documents can be scanned by users from their home or faxed, and the documents are received by staff that can process it and quickly give results that can lead to improved outcomes for both users and public organization staff. These kinds of portals are popping up in hospitals and clinics and criminal justice agencies. These allow the handling of information quickly and conveniently.
Another potential solution and identifiable gap in literature is the development of a network model that can allow for effective policy analysis for improved decision-making in public organizations. As one study examined the potential for such innovation, researchers from the study identified the need for recognition of themes and patterns in policy data. “investigates the development of a structured knowledge network model in information technology (IT) innovative and implementable projects to facilitate knowledge sharing and transfer in a multi-organization context. Results identify organizational factors and their influence on knowledge channels and knowledge networks” (Alkhuraiji, Liu, Oderanti, & Megicks, 2016, p. 1534). Things like organization factors like features in cloud computing software, can have a profound impact in how people perform the necessary functions for data analysis and transmission.
It is imperative that research is dedicated in improving things like cloud computing services along with policy information analysis so decision-making can improve. The possible solution of improving information processing through analysis of organizational factors is just one piece of a complex puzzle. However, it is worth considering because of the need for such services in the future. This is especially true if public organizations in the United States continue to have more budget cuts. Such budget cuts make it harder to gather enough resources that can then be used to improve and innovate the decision-making process in public organzations.
Recommendation for the Solution
Public organizations need to be flexible and agile in today’s often turbulent and difficult market/society. Therefore, public organizations may have to adopt an innovative decision-making process that relies on information systems. One such process is called the service oriented decision support system-based framework (DDS) that can be used in a cloud service. “Using service-oriented decision support systems (DSS in cloud) is one of the major trends for many organizations in hopes of becoming more agile. DSS in CLOUD enables scale, scope and speed economies” (Demirkan & Delen, 2013, p. 412). DSS in CLOUD allows for easy access to relevant information, easy communication between public organization members and promotes fast and easy decision-making based on relevant and updated information.
DSS in CLOUD allows for big data to be used and conveniently stored and accessed through cloud services. It promotes a cost-effective solution that eases competitive pressure and creates a convenient framework that moves with high potential. In any organization, whether it is public or private, the first step is to plan and configure processes that will promote effective decision-making. Such processes in today’s society need communication technology. As a result, service oriented architecture was developed to suit the needs of those in organizations aiming to improve communication and convenience. Public information systems are designed to gather, transmit, and compute information. When that information is then sent to a cloud service, it can be readily accessed by anyone in the public organization with the appropriate login credentials.
While the cloud service option is convenient, there are some disadvantages. Namely, security can be an issue. Anyone with the login credentials could access the cloud service and take the data. Some of this data can be sensitive information and can lead to privacy breaches. Furthermore, public organizations aiming to promote adaptation of this strategy may have to update their systems to handle this upgrade in technology.
Still, the bonuses of using such technology is that it is less expensive than create an entirely new information systems management that may be reliant on new hardware. Additionally, because the information is stored in a cloud service, retrieval of the information is easier even if systems within the public organization are compromised. The information is safely stored away from hard drives and can be accessed at any time. This is the best solution for public organizations aiming to promote information systems management and decision-making for the recent high demand seen now.
Conclusion
In conclusion, information systems and decision-making has evolved in recent years. Although public organizations still maintain a certain level of traditional decision-making, more public organizations have opted for the chance to improve their agility level and thus their decision-making process by adopting effective and efficient strategies to meet the success changes in the market and the demands of society. To achieve this, numerous modern public organization have adopted new management information systems component. Some of the components involve cloud applications to store relevant information in the cloud. With access to cloud storage, public organizations can have an easier time promoting communication, flexibility, and agility in today’s ever-expanding and fluctuating environment.
Cloud storage may be seen by some as potentially challenging regarding security. However, with recent applications promoting better handling of data, public organizations are seeing an increase in use of such services. This is because they feel pressure to make faster the decision-making process. Because such a process requires knowledge and information on subjects, the need to deliver easy to understand and absorb knowledge has been given priority. Therefore, information systems have evolved to meet those needs.
There are still various potential issues to resolve regarding information systems, especially in relation to data breaches. Nevertheless, the age of information systems has arrived and with it the evolution of informed decision-making. Public organizations must now make decisions on policy and budget quickly and with little time to ponder over information collected. Information systems allows for that data to be transmitted securely and without the need for tedious and time-consuming processes. The future may see increases in further innovation, especially in relation to security and convenience that may lead to overall improvements in public organization decision-making.



References
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Alkhuraiji, A., Liu, S., Oderanti, F. O., & Megicks, P. (2016). New structured knowledge network for strategic decision-making in IT innovative and implementable projects. Journal of Business Research, 69(5), 1534-1538. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.012
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