The Information Technology Gap in Public Administration: What We Can Learn from the Certified Public Manager and Senior Executive Service Programs

Abstract

The use of information technology (IT) has grown dramatically throughout every public agency regardless of size and scope. As a result, all public managers (technical and nontechnical) must be better informed and prepared to make critical decisions about IT, especially since IT is no longer the exclusive domain of technology managers. Master of Public Administration programs have struggled to prepare students for these new requirements of the 21st century workforce. This article examines this growing phenomenon by exploring two existing programs designed for practitioners who serve in senior public manager positions: the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program and the federal Senior Executive Service (SES). This article endeavors to provide a pedagogical pathway for schools of public administration and public affairs seeking to adopt IT competencies for a broader nontechnical audience.