It’s an open secret that municipal entities tend to fall behind when it comes to updating information technology and software. And updating entire systems while maintaining day-to-day operations can seem almost impossible. But don’t despair.
Capital Strategic Solutions’ Senior Project Manager, Mike Gallagher, has a wealth of experience managing these IT issues and obstacles. Mike’s insights into these complex issues are fueled by both his IT expertise in the private sector with large organizations like the Boston Globe, The New York Times and Fidelity Investments, dovetailed with his experience in town administration, serving as Town Manager in North Attleborough and Interim Town Administrator in several other communities. Here, we share his insights to help your team take on the challenge.
First, understanding that community support for long term IT needs is essential, and that takes effective communication. Mike offers that municipalities should identify process issues and resource gaps and effectively communicate those issues with the public to generate buy-in for long term IT funding, updates and projects.
If at all possible, be proactive instead of reactionary.
As Mike explains, “proactive planning is the best way to approach these long term projects, and transparency is essential. Bringing community members into the cost-benefit analysis by presenting them with data at community meetings allows members to have reliable and accurate information to inform their opinions.”
Practices as simple as PowerPoint presentations that display relevant data in a clear and visual way, give community members the opportunity to participate in the process. It is much easier to advocate and implement long term improvement and update projects when the issues that need resolving are clear, and people know where funding is being spent.
Other, frequent obstacles for municipal IT departments include:
- Data management and record keeping
- Security: data security, network security and systems security
- Obsolete software and slow system upgrades
Communities are likely dealing with at least one of the issues listed above in their IT departments. All three of these issues frequently require diligent long-term planning to address. Consistent leadership, proactive planning and community buy-in are essential to accomplishing major gains on these issues. No matter how you plan to approach the process, planning and communication are at the core of every phase.
As Mike explained, “Take your time at every planning stage, and even prepare to include a back out plan.” Long term improvement projects, especially for IT, require an experienced hand, but with the right leadership and a good dose of persistence your municipality can make great strides in implementing new IT infrastructure and software applications.
If you need Mike’s assistance with long-range IT infrastructure funding, planning or execution, contact Capital Strategic Solutions at [email protected]. We will be happy to evaluate your needs and assist with your IT implementation or update project.