Surveys and Awards

Top Digital States Awarded to Michigan and Utah

In its comprehensive 2010 Digital States Survey, e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government evaluated the digital technology practices of all 50 states.  Grades were given based on quantifiable results in better serving citizens and streamlining operations. Four states received A grades, with Michigan and Utah receiving an A and Pennsylvania and Virginia receiving an A-.
The survey evaluated states across eight broad categories, covering such areas as adaptive leadership and innovation; citizen engagement and open government; and administration and human resource management.  Those states which received high marks demonstrated results across all categories.

Cathilea Robinett, executive vice president of the Center for Digital Government said, “The results of the Digital States Survey show what happens when states take technology seriously – you can deliver services, you can reduce costs and you can cope with budget cuts.  The survey shows that many states are doing just that, and many others are doing the hard work of getting to that point. Most states are working harder and smarter, producing real results and providing value to the public.”
 
The Center thanks Accenture, EMC, Microsoft, NIC, SAS and Verizon for underwriting the survey and for their support of states nationwide.

2010 Digital States Survey Grades

A  Michigan and Utah

A- Pennsylvania and Virginia 
 
B+ California, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, and Tennessee 
 
B  Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia 

B- Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio and Washington

C+ Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin
 
C  Alabama, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Wyoming 
 
C- Idaho, Indiana, and South Carolina 

Interactive Map of Digital States

Click the map below to visit our comprehensive and interactive survey results at www.govtech.com/50statereportcard

Category Award Winners

In addition to every state’s individual grade, winners were chosen in each of the eight categories judged.  Those winners are:

Adaptive Leadership
1st - Georgia
2nd - California
3rd – Maryland
4th – Michigan
5th – Colorado

Enterprise ICT
1st Michigan
2nd California and Pennsylvania
3rd Illinois and New York

Public Safety
1st Tennessee
2nd Utah
3rd Virginia
4th Michigan
5th North Dakota

Health and Human Services
1st Utah
2nd Michigan
3rd Mississippi
4th Tennessee
5th Pennsylvania

Commerce, Labor and Tax
1st Utah
2nd Michigan
3rd New York and South Dakota
4th Missouri

Finance and Administration
1st Utah
2nd Michigan
3rd New York
4th Minnesota
5th Kansas

Energy and Transportation
1st Oregon
2nd Utah and Michigan
3rd New York
4th Minnesota

Citizen Engagement
1st California
2nd Virginia
3rd Michigan
4th Colorado and New York

Digital States Survey Grades Criteria:

A
Trending sharply up.  Demonstrated results across all categories.  Modernization used to realize operational efficiencies and strategic priorities under nimble leaders.  Evidence of meaningful collaboration.  Performance measures and metrics widely adopted.  Cuts tend to be made strategically.

B
Trending up. Demonstrated results in many categories.  Leadership using modernization to change entrenched practices to prepare for more sustainable operations. Incentives for collaboration in place.  Measures used in key areas. Cuts tend to be made across the board.

C
Trending stable. Demonstrated results in some categories. Modernization used to realize operational efficiencies.  Includes those states that had launched reforms but where results had not been fully harvested.   Organizational constraints limit collaboration.  Measures uneven.  Cuts constrained progress.

D
Trending down. Results in at least one category. Modernization tended to be siloed and limited.   Little evidence of collaboration.  Few measures .  Cuts threaten operational viability.

F
Trending sharply down. Inertia considerable.  Negligible results.  Aging systems destabilizing operations and increasing costs.  No evidence of collaboration. No measures in place.  Cuts cited for stopping any progress.

About the Center for Digital Government
The Center for Digital Government is a government research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. 
 
The Center is a division of eRepublic, a national publishing, event and research company focused on smart media for public sector innovation.