THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS WAS CREATED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION AND THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TO STUDY AND IDENTIFY IMPEDIMENTS TO ATTAINING AN EFFECTIVE FLOW OF INFORMATION WITHIN AND AMONG GOVERNMENTS AND TO RECOMMEND ACTIONS THAT COULD BE TAKEN AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE TASK FORCE FOUND A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICIENT INFORMATION FLOW. AMONG THESE ARE--(1) THE LACK OF STRONG, CENTRAL COORDINATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT OVER THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF INTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, (2) THE FRAGMENTATION OF FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAMS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, (3) THE LACK OF ADEQUATE COORDINATION AMONG SEPARATE FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS WHICH IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA UPON THE LOWER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND (4) THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE CONSULTATION BY FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES WITH LOWER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO IMPOSING REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION. THE TWENTY MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION INTENDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF BETTER AND MORE RESPONSIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED WITHIN SEVEN AREAS--(1) IMPROVING INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITHIN GOVERNMENTS, (2) IMPROVING THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG GOVERNMENTS, (3) STRENGTHENING INFORMATION SYSTEMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, (4) SHARING SYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE, (5) ACHIEVING COMPATIBILITY AMONG SYSTEMS, (6) IMPROVING INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND (7) GUIDELINES FOR ACTION. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INTENDED AS A FIRST STEP TOWARD IMPROVING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FLOW OF INFORMATION. A CONTINUING NATIONAL EFFORT WILL STILL BE NEEDED TO REVIEW AND IMPROVE THE COORDINATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITHIN AND AMONG ALL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS. (CM)