Gerry Weaver, CTO of Indiana’s Office of Technology, is interviewed in Computer World. He asserts that he has saved the state $25 million in annual costs related to Indiana’s IT infrastructure. It’s something of a puff piece, but for all I know Weaver’s glowing assessment of his achievements may be warranted. Any commentary on the State’s revamping of the IT infrastructure out there?
From what I know of it – this administration rather hastily expunged all staff in the various agencies that dealt with technology issues. There is now one centralized, under-staffed agency incapable of acquiring an understanding of the needs of the agencies (constituencies) served. Incidentally, centralization was a long-term goal of the previous administration as well, but they were actually trying to manage the change. These folks plunged ahead with speed but no deliberation. As a result, I am aware of state agencies unable to function for days while waiting for someone from the new central agency to A) notice and B) decide to do something about it.
The only fact that the previous comment got right is that the administration didn’t get anything done with IT consolidation. As a result, Hoosiers paid millions, yes millions, more on IT than was necessary. Nice job guys.
Virtually every state, and many other organizations, are undteraking IT consolidations because it saves a ton of money and improves security. Indiana has done it quite quickly by consolidating services common to all agencies, like desktop and network support. It’s all part of running goverment a little more like a business. So, the idea that the agency doesn’t understand the needs of the agencies is laughable becuse it makes no sense. All the agencies need desktop and network support. The agencies retained IT support for their applications — their unique needs.
There will always be pain in any consolidation and the current group has had their share of mistakes, but only a an uninformed political hack would make the previous contribution. Overall the IT consolidation has been a success.
“They were actually trying to manage the change” is my new favorate phrase to say “the previous administration did nothing.”