Information Technology investments that can deliver real return on investment with measurable results are often hard to find. Seems everyone knows of this project or that with the latest ERP, ECM, gaggle, whatchamacallit that didn’t deliver anything but red ink and irritated users.
The State of Washington has been a leader in innovative uses of technology. When you see a $300M pricetag it raises eyebrows and it should. You often hear about the projects that don’t deliver what they promised. The main difference between the ones you hear about and the ones you don’t hear about is simple. Well implemented technology systems just work, no one notices how nicely the faucet is working today. A successful technology solution should blend in with the daily routines we expect. When technology initiatives fail everyone notices. When they are well planned, realistically funded, professionally managed and the Executive sponsorship provides for the appropriate change management great savings and efficiencies can be gained.
The Debate is raging over whether the new Data Center project will be a boondoggle or a boon in terms of cost savings and efficiencies. One could argue that by consolidating IT infrastructure and using a shared services model for a general use technology like email you can accomplish two important goals, cost savings and compliance. Another argument would be that large agencies know how to manage budgets and IT systems better than DIS. The State of Washington has some very smart and talented IT professionals, if they do this right it could be one of the projects that you just don’t hear that much about.
One things for certain there can be significant efficiencies and cost savings through the use of shared services and cloud computing. The amount and diversity of data being produced, distributed and archived is expanding at an enormous rate.
Austin Jenkins published two articles on the subject:
Last Minute Lobbying led to $300M dollar Mega-Project http://tinyurl.com/yabbklo
http://news.opb.org
The Data Center Debate: Washington State http://tinyurl.com/ybw5rvn
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net

















