ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the findings of two studies on the implementation of Geographic information systems (GIS) in Dutch municipalities, with GIS being defined in broad terms to encompass land information systems and systems for automated mapping and facility management. The research in 45 municipal departments with GIS within eight Dutch municipalities aimed at testing and adapting a descriptive model, which describes the development of GIS related to administrative data processing in municipalities. The findings of these two studies explore the organizational, technical elements that influence the development of GIS in local government, describe expectations regarding the development of GIS in future based on a normative phase model. The evidence collected would indicate that relatively centralized top-down implementation leads to a wider and more co-ordinated diffusion within the organization than a bottom-up approach. The interviews conducted in the eight case-studies confirmed that in general organizational issues are more critical than technological or data related issues for the successful implementation of GIS.
