Executive Support For Urban Technology

Abstract

This paper describes the high level of support for computer technology among local government chief executives and suggests that this support is explained, in large part, by a generalized "faith in technology."

Computers and the Frustrated Chief Executive

“…Therefore, to the extent that chief executives control the use and development of EDP in their governments, those with greater unmet expectations will be less supportive of expansion into new automated applications and, at least in the counties, will be quite likely to limit the expansion of the EDP budget. The computer is an essential tool in day-to-day operations of this government 3In the future, the computer will become much more essential 4I don't understand what computers can do (5) The elected legislative body favors expansion of EDP (6) Much currently collected data is not organized to provide useful information (7) If properly designed and managed, current data could be useful ( Computers pr.ovide information which is helpful to me in decision-making (10) -.55…”

“…It is most interesting to examine whether there is a substantial group of local government leaders who feel EDP has not met their expectations.~ If such a I. There is some available research on those local government leaders who are supportive of computers [7].…”