Managing Geographic Information System Projects

Many of the current publications on GIS focus on the mechanics, technology, and project-specification applications of GIS. This book teaches the reader to successfully implement GIS from a management and organizational perspective. GIS is becoming widely used, and is evolving from a mapping tool used for support functions to a technology capable of redesigning land administration. In other sectors, information technology has had a dramatic effect on operations. This book examines those experiences, and applies them to GIS implementation. The introductory section explores the GIS paradigm - the GIS technology itself does not cause improvements, but that the technology enables changes that can improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Experience in GIS implementation has shown that the management and organizational issues are more significant than the technical issues in successful GIS implementation. An interdisciplinary approach is taken; information resource management and management science concepts are applied to GIS. The remainder of the book teaches the reader the necessary frameworks and techniques to plan, design and implement GIS as a technological infrastructure within an organization.