Testing the Rocheleau Data Sharing Model on North Carolina Law Enforcement Agencies
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Date
2005-04-05
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Abstract
This research tests nine hypotheses regarding computerized data sharing between public agencies. Rocheleau (1996) developed these hypotheses from private and public sector management literature. The hypotheses are grouped into three major categories: facilitating forces, internal facilitators, and inhibiting forces. From these hypotheses 13 independent variables and two dependent variables were developed.
This study developed an instrument to measure the correlation between the independent and dependent variables. The instrument was administered to police departments and sheriff offices in North Carolina from November 5th, 2003 through December 20th, 2003.
The research indicated the following six independent variables had a significant correlation with computerized data sharing in the law enforcement agencies: common goals, core functions, organizational survival, top management, Internet applications, and organizational autonomy. Respondents reported sharing computerized data with organizations that shared their common goals and supported their core functions. The respondents also shared data with selected organizations to ensure their organizational survival.
Initiating and sustaining computerized data sharing was strongly influenced by top management. However, the influence of top managers within the law enforcement agencies was more important than top management or political leadership outside of the agency. Additionally, having Internet connectivity was necessary but not sufficient to sustain data sharing. Computerized data sharing required a certain level of skill within an agency to sustain it.
Finally, one potential impediment to computerized data sharing was agency autonomy. The concern for autonomy had two aspects. First, agencies were adamant about resisting data sharing agreement that would compromise the ability to control their data. Second, the agencies were also reluctant to share computerized data when they believed they would loose control of the interpretation of their data.
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Keywords
information technology, law enforcement, public sector, data sharing
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Degree
PhD
Discipline
Public Administration
