eGovernment for businesses: Lessons learned from a trajectory for standardization of business information

This paper describes the lessons learned during a trajectory for standardization of business information. The main government organisations that store and exchange information about companies have standardised common data-definitions in a Basic Business Registry (BBR). This standardization trajectory has taken a long time and important lessons were learned especially with respect to project management and relation and expectation management. Top-management involvement and political support especially are important factors to even start the entire process. During definition of the standard, a well-defined project management structure is necessary that keeps top-management involved. An iterative project plan with only the next milestone worked out in detail is a prerequisite of a successful standardization trajectory. Finally, to really make the standard a success it is critical to have overall agreement of the same version of the standard, i.e. the standard has to be frozen by all the participants before the implementation phase starts.