The implementation of integrated electronic service delivery in Quebec: the conditions of collaboration and lessons

The article addresses the difficult conditions of interorganisational collaboration for the implementation of integrated electronic service delivery from three theoretical perspectives: institutional, political and managerial. These perspectives are used to conceptually define the main obstacles to interorganisational collaboration and the leverage available to public managers to facilitate the integration of electronic services. Based on a multiple case study in Quebec, the authors examine, more specifically, the institutional, political and managerial conditions that have delayed the integration of electronic services in this Canadian province. They show how the persistency of administrative practices, the desire for autonomy of public organisations and cumbersome governance structures have contributed to the diversification of the supply of online services in Quebec at the expense of an integrated service. Drawing on theoretical considerations and the study results, the authors propose that public managers do not stick only to horizontal governance mechanisms, but also make use of vertical governance mechanisms, to mitigate the effects of certain constraints on interorganisational collaboration and to accelerate the implementation of integrated electronic service delivery. Points for practitioners Several countries have made integrated public service delivery a priority of e-government. To effectively coordinate these projects with their multiple partners, public managers need to apply a hybrid governance to benefit from the stability of the hierarchy and the flexibility of the network. More specifically, the study shows vertical governance to be an effective tool to coordinate the activities of a network of organisations involved in the implementation of integrated service delivery.