Whereas the capabilities described in the previous section focus on a government’s ability to make the case for, select, and then manage individual and multiple government interoperability initiatives, this section focuses on the capability dimensions needed by the network members to successfully share information. As mentioned earlier in this paper, information sharing across a network form of organization is at the core of interoperability and the ability of a network to deliver coordinated programs and services. Table 5b presents eight capability dimensions based on CTG’s extensive research and practice in the development and use of capability assessment models in support of cross boundary information and knowledge sharing initiatives in government (see Pardo et al 2005 and Creswell et al 2006).

Table 5b. Information Sharing Capability Dimensions

Capability Dimension	Description
Collaboration Readiness	The degree to which relationships among information users and other resources support collaboration. Examples include staff, budget, training, and technology that support collaboration as well as prior successes or failures in collaborative activities
Organizational Compatibility	The degree to which the work styles and interpersonal relationships, participation in decision-making, levels of competition and collaboration, and styles of conflict resolution support information sharing. Compatibility of cultures may be gauged by the degree of centralization, degree of conformity, deference to authority, adherence to rules, and symbols of status and power
Information Policies	The level of development of policies that deal with the collection, use, dissemination, and storage of information as well as with privacy, confidentiality, and security.
Change Acceptance	The extent of talk and actions expressing positive or negative attitudes toward workplace changes, trust of new tools and techniques, success or failure stories that are widely shared and believed, and enthusiasm for innovations.
Technology Knowledge	The levels of knowledge about current and emerging technology for information sharing, including technical qualifications and experience of staff, training, records and documentation of technology assets, and the actions of staff in compiling, storing, and sharing such knowledge.
Data Assets & Requirements	The extent of specification and identification of formal policies for data collection, use, storage, and handling, as found in documentation of databases and record systems; and in data quality standards and dictionaries. It may include procedures for and results of data requirement analyses and data models and modeling techniques.
Secure Environment	The degree to which appropriate security protocols for data, applications, systems, and networks as well as policies, training, and management practices are in place.
Technology Compatibility	The presence of agreed-upon standards for hardware and software, the extent of connectivity among the persons and organizations seeking to share information, and the experiences of staff with information sharing activities.