Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) update, Vol. 5, Issue 5 (May 6, 2013)

GETS Update - May 6, 2013

Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) Update
Volume 5, Issue No. 5 May 6, 2013

Of like minds...
It stands to reason that for the state's IT transformation to deliver fully on its potential, we all have to be rowing in the same direction. Success requires that our collective goals and priorities be in alignment. That can be challenging as we all try to balance individual agency needs along with the interests of the state's IT enterprise.
At a meeting of the Agency Management Committee last month, agency CIOs shared their ideas about the keys to success as a CIO. Here's what they said:
Understanding the IT services they're buying Appreciating the roles played by GTA, AT&T, IBM and Dell, and differentiating them Being familiar with processes Staying informed on the IT health status of their agencies Knowing what they're being charged for services (and how to file disputes) Building relationships with partners, providers and customers
The themes that emerged in the meeting align closely with an initiative we're calling GETS+, aimed at providing agencies the necessary information and tools for managing IT service consumption and IT budgets. A component of the initiative, our GETS Education Program, is continuing with a series of monthly sessions covering topics relevant to agency CIOs and financial leaders.
The importance of relationship building came through loud and clear in the CIOs' keys to success. I couldn't agree more. In fact, we've made a priority of strengthening relationships with our agency customers, our service provider partners and within our own GTA team. We look forward to continuing to work with you to meet the needs of your agency and the Georgians you serve.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes State Chief Information Officer GTA Executive Director

In This Issue
Partnership: A key to IT transformation Summit today focusing on data management The ins and outs and arounds of asset management STARR powers IT data reporting
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Partnership: A key to IT transformation
The state's ongoing IT transformation brings to GETS agencies new and more reliable equipment, updated systems, greater system security and improved recoverability were the unexpected to occur. These benefits don't come easy. Ask any agency that's been through transformation, in whole or part. Ask DJJ, DDS, OPB or DOR. Ask DNR, now in the thick of it. The work is long, multi-dimensional and often inconvenient. Coordinating all of that calls for care, commitment and a clear understanding of how it works. That was the focus of the late April session of the GETS Education Program.
Transformation provides the path to reducing risk in the state's IT environment. That primary motivator for the IT consolidation from its beginnings several years ago remains a guiding principle of the GETS program. At the education program session, GTA reviewed those roots and put transformation in context for today, when the overall effort is better than 65 percent complete.
GTA emphasized partnership. Transformation takes partnership - partnership between GTA and the transforming agency, between the agency and IT service provider teams and partnership among agency IT, finance and business components. Transformation, GTA recommended, happens with agencies, not to them.
The April session marked the third in the GETS Education Program that continues with monthly sessions scheduled through October. Next month, end user computing will be the focus. The education program is a component of GTA's broader GETS+ initiative to better equip GETS agencies to successfully manage their IT consumption and IT budgets.
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Summit today focusing on data management
About 150 representatives of state and local government are attending Government Runs on Data, a data management summit hosted by GTA, taking place today at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center.
The event is aimed at preparing agencies to best manage their data to support informed business decisions, and to handle that data safely and securely.
IBM's Tim Paydos is leading off the day with a session about big data and what it means for government. During the luncheon, Curtis Carver Jr., Ph.D., Vice Chancellor and CIO of the University System of Georgia, is discussing opportunities to transform your business or agency through data and data analytics while balancing real threats and available security mechanisms. Breakout sessions throughout the day offer attendees the chance to explore a variety of facets of data management.
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The ins and outs and arounds of asset management
The GETS asset management team last week introduced an asset management handbook - a comprehensive, single source for all things related to managing IT assets within the GETS program. Agencies' asset management focals, IT staff and any others with hands in asset management can now rely on the handbook as the authoritative word on the subject.
Information on asset management duties and responsibilities split among a GETS agency, GTA and service providers IBM and Dell - it's here. Particulars about tools involved, like the GETS Portal, Maximo, GSMRT and the OrderNow! Service Catalog - also here. Asset management processes A to Z, reports and how to access them, and FAQs - all here.
When presenting the handbook at a May 2 quarterly asset management workshop, the team noted asset management guidance will be routinely updated, with handbook revisions to be made quarterly. The handbook now serves as the consolidation point for the latest practices.
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STARR powers IT data reporting
If you've reviewed the State Annual Information Technology Report for 2012, you know it serves as a report card to the Governor, state legislature, agency heads, tax payers and other stake holders.
GTA is required to collect IT-related data, and agency participation makes it possible for GTA to produce the annual report. We work to ensure that the data fully and accurately reflects each agency's IT environment. The information is used in planning, budgeting and reporting of technology services. We appreciate agencies' efforts to submit the data.
This year a new tool, State Technology Annual Report Register (STARR), will be used in the collection and analysis of data. STARR replaces the Information Technology Governance Report (ITGR) tool used for several years. While STARR collects mostly the same information found in the ITGR, it does so through a group of questionnaires. This new tool will aggregate the questionnaire responses for each agency and will also provide more reporting to the agency than in the past.
STARR is expected to yield data that will lead to more informed decision making for IT. GTA is working with agencies to introduce the tool and offer assistance in using it.
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We welcome your comments about service delivery, the state's IT transformation and related topics.
You can submit comments online or call our tollfree number to leave a recorded message.