Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) update [Vol. 6, Issue 2 (Feb. 7, 2014)]

Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) Update
Volume 6, Issue No. 2 February 7, 2014

The path forward is built on partnership, more than ever
Over the past few months, I've been eager to be in position to share news about sustained forward progress as we work toward completing the state's IT transformation. I know you're hungry for the same.
Our challenges are well-defined -- server consolidation, email upgrades for several GroupWise GETS agencies and file services updates all remain ahead of us. In addition, we have persistent service delivery issues to iron out.
Still, some favorable indicators have come. Teams of committed professionals are hard at work, no question. But we're shy of the kind of momentum we all want.
I am aware that redrawn timelines and IT service quality concerns affect GETS agencies' business. That's why GTA approaches the needed corrections with urgency. We will not let up. We value your continued partnership. Collaborating with you and with our IT service provider partners, we will do what needs to be done for your agencies and for the state. I am confident that together we will be successful.
Completing transformation won't mean our work is finished. Technology doesn't stand still. Business needs evolve. Our approach to IT service delivery has to continue to evolve. As we weigh options for improving the GETS delivery model for the months and years ahead, we intend to engage GETS agency representatives more than ever in the planning. The rationale is plain -- involve those served in molding services that will meet their needs. We're taking this idea from theory to practice right now on two key fronts.
First, in close collaboration with GETS CIOs and the Agency Management Committee, we have seven agency representatives joining a working committee on GETS service delivery model enhancements. These seven will work with GTA leaders (and advisors soon to be named) over the course of 2014 to size up direction. That includes future handling of managed network services, where we've recently agreed to a one-year extension with AT&T. The agency representatives are making a substantial commitment. They believe, as we do, it's a smart investment of their time.
Second, in a similar way we have five agency representatives joining a working committee on Office 365 options. This committee will evaluate Office 365 services (e.g., e-mail, instant messaging, presence) and deployment paths (i.e., cloud vs. local hosting) in February. Equipped with their recommendations, we will take steps toward offering Office 365 services.
My sincere thanks to all named below for their time and insights and collaboration.
Working committee, GETS service delivery model Agency reps: John Barmann (DOAS), Laura Ellis (DHS), Doug Engle (DBHDD), Thenraja Kaliappan (SAO), Michael Long (DOR), John Martin (DNR), Tom McMurry (DDS).
Working committee, Office 365 Agency reps: James Brown (GBI), Steve Hodges (DOR), Percy Owens (DBHDD), Gene Quinn (GDC), Anand Vangala (DHS).
Far from being academic exercises, these committees will see real input from agencies with real results -- some in a matter of just weeks.
I said in last month's Update and many times previous, your partnership is critical to the progress we make together. It's apparent now as much as ever. I look forward to the possibilities we will explore this year.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes State Chief Information Officer GTA Executive Director

In This Issue
2014 Technology Innovation Showcase accepting entries State IT spending approached $559M in FY 2013 Want folks to use your website? Build it their way Briefly... (SCON)
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2014 Technology Innovation Showcase accepting entries
Submissions are now being accepted for the 2014 Georgia Technology Innovation Showcase, which recognizes state and local government agencies for their outstanding use of information technology.
For the third year, GTA is encouraging state and local agencies to participate in the Showcase. The deadline for submissions is April 2, 2014.
Government continues to use technology in more innovative ways to improve operating efficiency, stretch limited tax dollars and provide Georgians with convenient access to services and information. The Showcase is a forum for recognizing these efforts and sharing ideas, experiences and lessons learned.
GTA is looking for projects in the following categories that were completed by December 1, 2013, and initiated no earlier than December 1, 2011:
Cross-boundary Collaboration and Partnerships Data, Information and Knowledge Management Digital Government - Government to Business Digital Government - Government to Citizen Enterprise IT Management Initiatives Improving State or Local Government Operations Information Communications Technology Innovations Open Government Initiatives Cyber Security Initiatives
Agencies and other government entities can submit projects in as many categories as they want, but no more than one project will be accepted for each category. Before deciding on a category for a project, be sure to read the full category descriptions.
The online submission form asks for details about the project, including the business problem it addressed, its significance to government operations, and its financial and non-financial benefits.
Up to six projects from state agencies and three projects from local agencies will be selected for the 2014 Showcase and honored at the Georgia Digital Government Summit, set for September 18 and 19 in Atlanta.
Projects submitted for the Showcase will also be considered for recognition in Georgia's State IT Annual Report and on GTA's website, and for submission to the 2014 State IT Recognition Awards sponsored by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
In past years, two projects selected for the Showcase were also honored by NASCIO: I-85 Express Lanes at the State Road and Tollway Authority and The Point Implementation at the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
Questions? Contact GTA at gtainfo@gta.ga.gov.
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State IT spending approached $559M for FY 2013
Georgia state agencies spent $558.6 million on information technology in FY 2013, according to the Annual State IT Report from GTA. The report provides information on many of the state's strategic technology investments and serves as a report card to state leaders, taxpayers and other stakeholders.
FY 2013 expenditures included:
$249.2 million on IT infrastructure and network operations $309.4 million on support for IT applications
The report also includes information about applications agencies use to support their business operations, with a total of 572 applications reported for the year. In addition, the state's IT project portfolio in FY 2013 tracked projects totaling $335 million, which included projects in the planning phase valued at $23 million. Overall, IT projects increased by $14 million from FY 2012 to FY 2013, primarily due to growth in the number of healthcare projects. The IT project portfolio for FY 2013 included more than 20 projects (in 13 agencies) spanning multiple years.
While the report's compilation of IT expenditures is the most comprehensive available, it is not a complete accounting, and the total amount spent on technology is actually higher. Not all state entities are required to report their IT expenditures, including the judicial branch and the University System of Georgia. For FY 2013, 45 of the 50 agencies required to report their IT expenditures did so.
However, agency investments in technology are only part of the report. It also highlights focus areas for the state's IT strategy through 2020, including mobility, citizen access to services, innovation, technology as a service, managing data as an asset, and an evolved funding/business model.
The report contains five sections:
1. Current State 2. Stakeholder Value 3. IT Governance 4. IT Financial Management 5. IT Strategy
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Want folks to use your website? Build it their way
When it comes to your website, it's really not about you. It's about your site users. Your choices on everything from site design to site content should reflect that.
How do you ensure that kind of user focus is woven into your site? GTA's GeorgiaGov Interactive team that administers the state's Georgia.gov portal says get to know your users. Find out what they use your site for, what their information needs are, what their demographic profile looks like, and even what kinds of devices (e.g., PCs, tablets, mobile phones) they use to access your site. Then, build to suit them.
Website usability (that is, how easy it is for users to accomplish what they want to on your site) is a key to ensuring a positive experience. Several tips can guide good choices:
Put most important content at the top -- don't ask users to scroll down where you can avoid it Keep navigation simple and understandable Maintain brief and up-to-date content Use white space to your advantage
In managing these variables, there's no substitute for professional site design and site testing with users. The GeorgiaGov Interactive team suggested testing tactics, from simple to sophisticated, at a January 15th GOVTalks session. This GOVTalks information series highlights new topics in web trends and technology, with a broader goal of helping you help Georgians easily find the information and services they need from their state goverment.
See more information on the GeorgiaGov Interactive team's website.
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Briefly...
The server consolidation (SCON) portion of the state's IT transformation continues, with IBM building the needed 584 servers. That team adds software and middleware to newly built servers, and coordinates the needed user IDs and database access. As of the end of January, IBM has delivered 262 servers to GETS agencies. The receiving agencies then load their applications and begin user acceptance testing. On the near horizon, DCH (Q1 2014) and GBI (Q2 2014) are expected to have their new servers in full operation. Other agencies will follow, with updated schedules (incorporating agency considerations) to be shared soon.
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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 toll-free number to leave a recorded message.