NASCIO Brief Highlights Importance of Cross-Boundary Collaboration for Successful State IT Policy

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), which represents the chief information officers (CIOs) of the states, is pleased to announce the release of its brief "Getting Started in Cross-Boundary Collaboration: What State CIOs Need to Know." The brief can be found online.

State agencies are increasingly crossing organizational boundaries and combining resources in order to achieve joint goals, produce innovation and serve citizens. This brief, a product of NASCIO's Cross-Boundary Collaboration Committee, led by Co-Chair's Otto Doll, Chief Information Officer, South Dakota and Kristen Miller, Chief Information Officer, Pennsylvania, examines the drivers behind cross-boundary collaboration and outlines the top ten considerations for state CIOs at the outset of collaboration.

"State CIOs should view cross-boundary collaboration as a necessary and critical part of their job," said Miller. "When executed properly, this type of collaboration can increase efficiency within government, while providing better, more innovative services for citizens."

This brief not only illustrates why state CIOs should consider cross-boundary collaboration and how collaboration begins, but also identifies various types of collaboration, and provides tangible success stories and lessons learned.

"State CIOs recognize the opportunities in cross-boundary collaboration," said NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson, "and NASCIO's Executive Committee acted quickly to charter the Cross-Boundary Collaboration Committee for the purpose of providing CIOs with the resources they need to forge and foster effective cross-boundary relationships with key stakeholders and partners."