Getting it right.(from the editors)(information technology)(Editorial)

Technology has become an essential component of doing business in the public sector. In the past, most discussion of technology in public sector trade literature has focused on the features and functions offered by new technologies. This was only natural given the important potential benefits to be realized and the novelty of these solutions. AS the technology market matures, however, it is important to more closely examine how to manage technology and how to get the most out of technology investments.

This is even more important in this era of tight budgets; governments can't afford to spend funds on the wrong technology or fail to get the most out of their existing technology resources. As such, this issue of Government Finance Review examines issues of technology investment and management. Our lead article, "ERP Market Dynamics for Midsize Governments," discusses the market for integrated financial and human resources systems targeted at midsize governments. This article explains what the shifts in this market mean for government customers and how to make an intelligent investment given these conditions. "The Road to ERP Optimization" is the first in a two-part series on how to optimize an ERP investment. This installment explores the inherent challenges governments face as they seek to achieve measurable process improvements through ERE

Although ERP is most relevant to finance officers, it is only one of many technology resources employed by public ...