A well-organized governance structure was considered a success factor in each integration initiative studied. Each case benefited from a well-organized governance structure charged with providing leadership, defining goals and objectives of the project, and enabling efficient analysis of policy environments and technical solutions. A governance body was considered an important coordination and control mechanism for the agencies involved in an initiative. Each case recognized and acted on the need to have policy-level members in the governance structure. Through the various governance structures members were provided the capacity to make decisions and build agreements with their partners. The governance bodies provided a venue for cross-boundary integration teams to explore the diversity of their organizational goals and to focus on establishing a shared goal for the integration initiative. The governance bodies also provided a venue for the necessary debate that surrounds the development of system and data standards necessary to support interoperability.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) executive council is comprised of ten governing agencies. The executive council is responsible for establishing the policy and strategic vision of the integration initiative.

Table 3. Useful integration strategies

Integration strategy	Integration barriers addressed
Retain autonomy of the involved agencies	Turf and resistance to change Environmental and institutional complexity
Establish and exercise a governance structure	Organizational diversity and multiple goals IT and data incompatibility
Secure strategic partnership	Environmental and institutional complexity IT and data incompatibility
Build on long-range and comprehensive planning	IT and data incompatibility Environmental and institutional complexity Turf and Resistance to Change
Build understanding of the business process	Organizational diversity and multiple goals Environmental and institutional complexity
Secure adequate financial resources	IT and data incompatibility Turf and resistance to change
Obtain and nurture executive leadership and legislative support	Turf and resistance to change Environmental and institutional complexity