Successful projects have either a strong executive champion, the support of the legislature, or both. Obtaining the support and buy-in from an executive leader or a legislative body necessary for an information integration project to move forward is critical. Integration efforts require organizations and individuals to change. In a number of the cases, leadership support was critical to efforts to secure necessary change. Securing the necessary change in the cases studied required an open and collaborative process, and clear and consistent leadership support.

At the state level, legislative support is considered essential for the success of broadly based integration initiatives. The complexity of the environment and the sometimes unclear lines of authority were found to be less of a barrier in those cases where the legislature provided leadership and support to the initiative. In most of the cases studied, the legislature was closely involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the initiative.

In Colorado, a Statutory Commission of the Legislature was a key player in establishing the state’s comprehensive integration initiative. In Delaware, the State Legislature played a major role in the development of the Delaware Justice Information System (DELJIS).