Governments struggle with the challenge of effectively sharing authority, resources, and information across organizational boundaries within and outside those governments, i.e., becoming interoperable. While differing in their specific political structures and even degrees of civil society and rule of law, governments around the world tend to share this challenge. The degree of complexity of the conditions do vary, but the struggle of working together across the boundaries of organizations remains intense, whether there are simply two agencies or a multi-level, multi-sector network of organizations.

“I recently read Improving Government Interoperability: A Capability Framework for Government Managers and found great value in the capability model presented. The framework offer[s] a practical approach to [assessing] the complex challenges posed by increasing information exchange across multiple networks. Your papers have been circulated as recommended reading here in Oregon state government.”
—Rick Howard, Chief Information Officer, Department of Human Services, Oregon

Based on our research, CTG has learned about the challenges of working across the traditional boundaries of agencies, levels of government, and with the private sector. These challenges extend well beyond the technology, including conflicts and constraints in the current political, social, and economic environment. Often the government capabilities necessary to affect changes across the boundaries of organizations are missing.

To help government leaders and other key policy makers enable rather than hinder interoperability efforts, CTG has developed the Government Interoperability Improvement Framework. This framework is designed to provide government decision makers with a practical and efficient tool to help them assess current governmentwide capabilities and then plan for improving those capabilities needed to meet specific interoperability goals.