DECEMBER - JANUARY8GOVERNMENT CIO OUTLOOKDIN MYOPINIONAchieving Success with the Right Solution for Your OrganizationLance C. Arnold, Chief of Police, City of Weatherford Police DepartmentByecision-makers in public safety organizations are inundated with emails and sales pitches, espousing the latest technology innovations and solutions. In a pattern of shrinking budgets and staffing, technology solutions can offer some relief. Then again, a misguided solution or poor implementation could easily exacerbate existing issues. Before deciding on a new or emerging solution, executives should explore the problem, the existing processes, and the real cost of implementation. Once the decision is made, assembling the right project team is imperative to success. Identifying the ProblemIt is often easy for an executive to focus on the symptoms rather than the real cause of the issue. For example, will technology solutions designed to enhance community engagement improve police and community relations? It depends. First, executives should examine the existing relationship, the level of organizational commitment, and the culture of the agency. Persistent issues in any of those areas should be addressed before turning toward a technology solution. Before proceeding, leaders should understand if the proposed solution is improving the symptom or addressing the problem. Public safety executives must engage the members throughout the organization to uncoverthe core problem for which a solution is needed. Fit with Existing ProcessesA stand-alone solution may solve the problem, but how does it integrate with other required processes or solutions? Technology solutions should improve inefficient and ineffective organizational processes, not escalate them. The net effect of a scheduling solution thatenhances a supervisor's ability to manage their shift but doubles the workload of the payroll clerk would likely be less efficient. An executive should form a team of functional area experts to examine the current state and future state of the processes touched by the proposed solution. The team must also include IT professionals and functional leads in other departments impacted by the potential process changes. Determine the True CostSales and marketing professionals often promote technology solutions with attractive cost scenarios. Yet, the feature-Lance C. Arnold
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