 Plan Addresses Use of Technology in State Government November 29, 2002
"This plan charts our course for the future and ensures that the state will use technology in the most effective and efficient means to serve citizens and streamline government,"
The plan was conducted through a contract with PTI Consulting, who worked with a Steering Committee to guide the state through the planning process. PTI held focus group and individual meetings, performed desk audits of state applications and systems, and had on-site tours of state facilities. They segmented the plan into 3 main parts: assessment, strategic direction, and implementation planning. "PTI Consulting looked at our current environment and helped us ask the right questions about where we want to go in the future," said Department of Administration Commissioner Jim Duncan, who was a member of the Steering Committee. "Once we had an accurate and objective picture of where we are today, we were able to look at the options in front of us in a more constructive way." The Steering Committee for the plan had representation from the Executive and Legislative branches as well as University of Alaska membership. The Judicial branch also cooperated in the development of the plan. "The fact that this plan was done across all branches and agencies is a key part of why this was a successful process," Duncan said. "Without that enterprise-wide buy-in, this effort would be much less effective. The implementation of this plan may at times be difficult, and because everyone has been involved since the beginning, it stands a much better chance coming to fruition." Among other recommendations, the plan calls for enterprise wide security and disaster recovery planning, a reexamination of the State's email and calendaring functionality and a new financial management and human resources system. "Some of the recommendations in the plan are already underway -- such as the selection of a new financial management system and revising the rates charged to agencies by our central computing office," said Duncan. "Others are brand new and will take a while to plan and implement, such as developing a new funding approach for refreshing our IT systems. We still have to weigh the options for those recommendations and do what is right for the State." Duncan said that he also hopes this plan will serve as a good transition document that clearly states the technology accomplishments of the Knowles/Ulmer Administration, and provides the new administration with starting points for building on the successes of the past. "Time and again this document points out areas where we have had great success and been a leader in technology," Duncan said. "And it provides clear guidance on where we must concentrate our efforts to continue to provide efficient and effective services using technology."
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