Managing Geographic Information Systems

Now in a fully revised and expanded second edition, this widely adopted text and practical reference addresses all aspects of developing and using geographic information systems (GIS) within an organization. Coverage includes the role of the GIS professional, how geographic information fits into broader management information systems, the use of GIS in strategic planning, and ways to navigate the organizational processes that support or inhibit the success of GIS implementation. All chapters retained from the prior edition have been thoroughly updated to reflect significant technological, empirical, and conceptual advances, as well as the changing contexts of GIS use. New chapters discuss organizational politics, metadata, legal issues, and GIS ethics.

Nancy J. Obermeyer, PhD, is Associate Professor of Geography at Indiana State University. Her research interests include GIS implementation issues, public-participation GIS, professionalism, and ethics. Dr. Obermeyer began her professional life in several Illinois state agencies, working as an analyst in the Office of Planning, an energy planner in the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, and a project manager in the Department of Transportation. She was a member of the founding Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institution (GISCI), and currently serves on GISCI’s Ethics Committee.

Jeffrey K. Pinto, PhD, is Professor of Management at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. His research interests include project management, information system implementation, power and political processes in organizations, and the diffusion of innovations. Dr. Pinto holds the Andrew Morrow and Elizabeth Lee Black Chair in Management of Technology, has received the Distinguished Contribution Award from the Project Management Institute and the Behrend Council of Fellows Research Award, and has consulting experience with a number of major organizations.