Methods for Realizing Benefits From ICT in the Norwegian Public Sector: A Comparison

Benefits realization from public information and communication technology (ICT) investments is complicated. Research and development has resulted in methods for evaluating alternative business cases – and also more substantial methods to manage effects through an investment’s life cycle. Previous research suggests that use of benefits realization methods can lead to more informed decisions and implementations driven by benefits, this in turn can result in more realized benefits. However, there is a lack of studies of existing benefits realization methods-inuse. The objective of this article is to give an overview of the state-of-the-art of benefits realization method use in the Norwegian public sector, to highlight the variety of methods-inuse, and to discuss the different methods with reference to the much cited Benefits management model (Ward et al., 2006).