EVOLUTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPENDING LEVELS IN SÃO PAULO STATE GOVERNMENT

Abstract

This research explores the level of spendings on Information Technology (IT) undertaken by São Paulo State Government and its evolution from 2004 to 2013. It started on the assumption that companies have increased their investments in IT over recent years, as a natural consequence of IT evolution and the large number of new features available. Thus, the relative importance of IT to a company could be measured by the volume of IT spending over the volume of its total expenditure. Results show that São Paulo State Government investment in IT has increased in absolute terms over this period, however the portion of total budget invested in IT has not grown, and keeps virtually frozen over last years, at percentages close to 1%, which indicates that the relative importance of IT as a Government priority has not increased.This research explores the level of spendings on Information Technology (IT) undertaken by São Paulo State Government and its evolution from 2004 to 2013. It started on the assumption that companies have increased their investments in IT over recent years, as a natural consequence of IT evolution and the large number of new features available. Thus, the relative importance of IT to a company could be measured by the volume of IT spending over the volume of its total expenditure. Results show that São Paulo State Government investment in IT has increased in absolute terms over this period, however the portion of total budget invested in IT has not grown, and keeps virtually frozen over last years, at percentages close to 1%, which indicates that the relative importance of IT as a Government priority has not increased.