Today, state and local government use of information technology is manifested in many independent systems that each support only one business function or satisfy one particular program need. As a result, a large and growing number of individual systems for G2G business relationships are employed across state and local levels. This multiplicity of systems is often a significant impediment to efficient work, as well as a financial strain, because many applications require their own hardware, software, security, office space, and business rules.

In order to perform business functions on each system, local government officials must sign in and out as they use each one, requiring numerous log-ins and passwords. Usually, data entered into one system cannot be used in another. Numerous duplicate requests for information are made and fulfilled as individual organizations respond to uncoordinated requests and requirements. Moreover, many local offices keep duplicate paper or electronic copies of information they send to the State because these state-sponsored systems are seldom interoperable or designed with local information needs or business practices in mind. This situation poses a significant burden on the work processes of both state agencies and local governments and entails higher than necessary costs for everyone. If current practices continue, this picture of multiplicity and duplication will worsen as more individual business functions are automated.

Figure 1 illustrates only a fraction of the current array of NYS G2G relationships and interactions by representing a portion of the electronic information systems that connect state and local governments. The figure shows a small number of each kind of government organization and does not reflect any inter-local information systems connecting county and municipal governments. If we extend this picture to include all existing information systems among all state and local entities the picture would be far more complicated, with hundreds of connections involving state agencies, counties, towns, cities, and villages.

Figure 1. Simplified depiction of existing intergovernmental information systems