Posts By Terri Jones

Thoughts on the Government IT Roadmap – Three Roads to Consider

In government, we struggle to develop a consistent, multi-year roadmap. Sometimes, we’re too busy, but often, it’s because our mission and initiatives change with every election cycle. One of the things I love about enterprise content management (ECM) solutions is that no matter who’s in office, they support the heart of government – the documentsRead… Read more »

Top 5 Ways to Justify IT Investments

I’ve had moments when I was so excited about the potential of a new IT project that I couldn’t wait to get it started. And, after dedicating time to the procurement, RFP, review, negotiation and contract process, who wouldn’t look forward to doing the actual work? But, before you roll up your sleeves, there’s oneRead… Read more »

What to Do on November 7th – Driving Efficiency in Government

During an election year, the phrase “improve government efficiency” is heard and promised, usually with little detail provided. That’s because until you work in an agency, it’s hard to really understand what efficiency is, let alone how it would improve your working environment. At the same time, there is wide acceptance that technology is essentialRead… Read more »

Why the Latest and Greatest is Important – Software, Maintenance and Enhancements

Next week, I’ll be attending the OnBase Training & Technology Conference (OTTC). During my time in government, I went to many users’ conferences, mostly out of self-defense. I viewed these events as a chance to lobby for the enhancements and improvements I needed for my department. Unfortunately, the process for discussing these needs was oftenRead… Read more »

Faster, Cheaper, Better Government, Part 3 – Top County Trends to Watch

Faster, Cheaper, Better Government, Part 3 – Top County Trends to Watch I just attended an illuminating technology summit hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The group began offering these summits to help elected officials learn about technology showcasing proven examples of how it helps counties better serve their constituents while weathering difficultRead… Read more »

Faster, Cheaper, Better Government – Part 2: Start with the Basics, 5 Ways to Be Faster

In Part 1 of this series, I discussed my experiences at the Cityworks conference in the context of the historical and continuous reductions in the number of public sector jobs. Despite these staggering job losses, I believe government leadership can transform this bad moment into a watershed for creating the “faster, cheaper, better government” model.Read… Read more »

Faster, Cheaper, Better Government – Part 1

Sometimes, the scariest moments create an environment for lasting, positive change. And, when the imperative to change is linked to exploding technological options, it can be truly revolutionary. Take the position government finds itself in right now. The public sector lost more than 700,000 jobs since its peak in 2009. The latest economic forecasts suggestRead… Read more »

Healthcare Reform Upheld: Are You Prepared for the Effects?

My Colleague Dan West has some interesting thoughts on healthcare reform now that the initial dust has cleared… Regardless of your view on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, yesterday’s Supreme Court decision is a signal to healthcare organizations to continue preparations for change. And if your organization hasn’t started, now’s the time. AnRead… Read more »

Finding the Nimble in Government IT

Last week, I attended the National Association of State CIOs midyear conference. While there were comments about budgets, broadband and mobility initiatives, the conversation took an unexpected turn – people were discussing the speed of new technology deployment. Given that this is an election year, the challenges associated with new technology investments – from theRead… Read more »

Public Records Perils – Transparency Lets You See the Solution

One positive effect of transparency in the public sector is that it gives city and county government an opportunity to assess current practices and make needed changes. Given the increase in public records requests and the scrutiny from the White House on down to the local level, there is no doubt constituents want more accessRead… Read more »