Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) Update [Vol. 5, Issue 11 (Nov. 5, 2013)]

Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) Update

Volume 5, Issue No. 11

November 5, 2013

Opening the pipes and letting business flow
Last week's Georgia Digital Government Summit brought together representatives of state agencies and local governments from across the state to learn about technology trends and exchange ideas. Conversations with many of you at the summit reminded me just how dedicated you are to finding ways to better serve your constituents. I heard about many initiatives that illustrated your resourcefulness and tireless pursuit of solutions to intractable problems.
Keynote speaker Bill Bott spoke about improving government by increasing our capacity to do more good. He calls the people of government "amazing" and says they are drawn to public service because of their dedication and passion for what they do. It's the processes or "pipes" of government that need our attention. The tough economy in recent years has increased the need for government services, while also putting a strain on funding. Government has a capacity problem as pressure builds on the pipes. Processes get snarled along the way, adding kinks to the plumbing.
While IT can't fix flawed processes, we do have a key role to play. As technology professionals, we need to be at the table during early stages of project planning, offering ideas about best practices and how IT can support them.
The summit gave us the opportunity to acknowledge exactly that kind of outstanding work as we recognized the award recipients from our second annual Technology Innovation Showcase. The projects exemplified how government at all levels is deploying increasingly creative technology solutions to improve operating efficiency, provide greater transparency into government spending, make information more easily available and enhance customer service.
It was my honor to congratulate the 2013 award recipients:
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia - The Point Implementation Cobb County - SPLOST Fact Sheets and Interactive GIS Web Maps Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation - GaMap2Care DeKalb County - Automated Accident Reporting System Department of Driver Services - Create a Custom Checklist, Wait Time Online, Online License Status Check, Monitored Driver Service Georgia World Congress Center Authority - Georgia Dome Wi-Fi Department of Labor - Electronic Check Deposit and State Information Data Exchange (SIDES) E-Response Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia - Tracker Prosecutor Case Management System Department of Transportation - Geographic Transportation Reporting, Analysis and Query System (GeoTRAQS)
More information about the showcase projects is available on GTA's website. Each one fulfills the aspiration that Bill Bott described - increasing government's capacity to do more good. We look forward to recognizing more projects next year. Look for details in early 2014.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes State Chief Information Officer GTA Executive Director

In This Issue
Smart choices for storage mean shedding old ways What's good for one may be good for others Education program wraps up and looks ahead Mobile-friendly web design tips anytime with "GOVTalks" online Briefly... (SCON) (NASCIO survey)
Quick Links
Previous newsletters GTA website GTA blogs GETS End User Resources GETS Billing GETS FAQs

Smart choices for data storage mean shedding old ways
Today's storage methodology will not translate well in the transformed GETS technology environment. A changed approach will be needed. That involves for many GETS agencies a more active review of how they store, retain and dispose of data. The good news is agencies can hope to see opportunity to reduce future storage costs when they adopt best practices in their data handling.
To help prepare, GTA will present an additional GETS Education session in November on storage before and after transformation. Building on information shared there, roadshow sessions with each individual agency will follow to talk about backup and recovery for them specifically. How can storage best practices take hold at DBHDD or GDC or elsewhere? The roadshows, extending through the end of the year, will begin to map it out.
The focus on agencies' storage, backup and retention practices marks the current emphasis of the GETS consumption management program. Storage has risen up as a service tower where informed, disciplined consumption management by GETS agencies has potential to make a real difference in their IT spending. That potential stands to grow even more pronounced as agencies shift to the transformed environment and the TSM storage tool supporting it.
The work of providing the needed understanding of GETS services, billing and consumption management is ongoing. It's not confined to storage practices. Farther down the line, GTA hopes to give parallel attention to best practices in other IT service areas for GETS agencies. Also, the education program will continue in 2014, though perhaps in different form. Consumption management becomes a regular consideration in approaching IT for individual agencies and for the state's IT enterprise as a whole.
Back to Top

What's good for one may be good for others
Sometimes unique business needs call for unique technology to help accomplish them. You'd expect other instances though where similar business needs from one state agency to the next could be served by the same technology. It's those cases where Georgia benefits when agencies come together, recognize common needs and capitalize on common technology solutions.
That's an emphasis of the annual GTA-hosted IT Strategy Summit held yesterday in Atlanta. Upwards of 100 representatives from some 30 agencies discussed ways to better capitalize on proven technology to achieve their strategic goals, within and across agencies.
To lay a foundation, event speakers illustrated how to get real leverage from technology. Georgia Pacific CIO Randal Robison spoke of leading change and sharpening vision through effective use of technology. Kennesaw State University professor Donald Amoroso discussed doors being opened by emerging technology. And state fiscal economist Ken Heaghney of Georgia State University's Fiscal Research Center examined the economic climate agencies operate within.
In the second half of the day participants shared stories of how they're integrating technology into business achievement. They were encouraged to borrow ideas from one another (i.e. let good ideas come out of the bag) where their aims or needs run parallel. And, they were asked to consider how their agency might partner with other agencies to leverage technology across the enterprise.
The full-day summit, titled Georgia 2020: Strategy With Technology, brought together business leaders, strategists and technology leaders from state agencies. It provided them a forum for longer term IT planning that stands to benefit individual agencies and Georgia state government as a whole.
See additional event details on GTA's website.
Back to Top

Education program wraps up and looks ahead
Twelve sessions. More than 300 participants from GETS agencies since February of this year. Another couple dozen engaged through the secondary e-mail/conference call path. Overwhelming agreement (94 percent or better) from attendees that they've gained a fuller understanding of GETS services and billing and how to effectively manage their agency's service consumption.
That's the record for this year's inaugural curriculum of the GETS Education program produced and presented by GTA. It wrapped up in October with a summary and a look at what's ahead for this key component of GETS consumption management efforts.
The program kicked off in early 2013 with a goal of bringing information to GETS customers to better equip them to consume the amount of IT services suited to their business needs, and to be confident they're paying for the right amount of services consumed. These efforts have been paired with related elements of the GETS+ program including expanded reporting, improved processes and services better aligned with evolving business needs -- all of it directed at better serving the IT service needs of the state.
The education push doesn't end here. Already another session has been added November 14 focused on storage before and after transformation, and the TSM storage tool, in particular. And of course, the GETS services picture is fluid, so as it evolves other sessions will take shape covering the latest information into 2014, and beyond. Back to Top

Mobile-friendly web design tips anytime with GOVTalks online
GOVTalks, the new informational series offered by the GeorgiaGov Interactive team within GTA, is online. So even if you missed the live session in September when the series debuted, you can catch up anytime.
An event summary, videos of speakers' remarks, presentation slides and related materials -- all of it's available online. The initial half-day workshop focused on emerging trends in website design that accommodate the increased use of mobile and tablet technology. Speakers emphasized mobile is now, and responsive design offers one effective way to set up web sites to suit whatever technology (PC, tablet or smartphone) a visitor chooses.
Each quarter GeorgiaGov Interactive will bring you a new topic, each building on the theme of helping agencies create great websites and user experiences to better serve customers. The broader goal: Make it easy for Georgians to find the information and services they need from their state government.
The next edition of GOVTalks is planned for January. Watch for details. Back to Top

Briefly...
The server consolidation (SCON) project is gaining new momentum as the GETS team gears up to tackle the remainder of this challenging element of the state's IT transformation. New servers to be housed at the state's North Atlanta Data Center are being built. Server access rights are being sorted. Updated project schedules are under review with agencies. Plans for application loading and testing are being coordinated. This invigorated push will continue into the coming year en route to planned completion of transformation work in 2014.
State governments are advancing IT by focusing on the enterprise and coordinating across boundaries. That's according to the 2013 CIO survey conducted by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Among the findings: a) an enterprise approach shows benefits in project oversight, cyber security, shared services and more, b) CIOs across the country are following a philosophy of enterprise thinking and enterprise solutions, c) integration and collaboration extend beyond the state executive branch, and d) consolidation of statewide IT operations continues to be on the rise. See fuller results of the survey titled The Enterprise Imperative.
Back to Top

We welcome your comments about service delivery, the state's IT transformation and related topics.
You can submit comments online or call our toll-free number to leave a recorded message.