Bureau of Housing Services (BHS)

Abstract

One of the main problems of information systems development in multi-agency, inter-organizational projects is sustaining willingness to participate across many different and differently organized entities with multiple, and in some cases, mutually exclusive operating assumptions. This case describes such an environment. The New York State Bureau of Housing Services faces the dilemma of using its authority to compel homeless service providers to share information needed to develop a new information system versus seeking providers’ support to develop the system through collaboration.