JULY-AUGUST 2025 9GOVERNMENT CIO OUTLOOKfor employers who are behind the times. The good news is corrections agencies have started making headway, and the concept of technology innovation as a need, rather than a want, is gaining traction among legislative bodies and policy decision-makers.So where does one start, or improve upon existing efforts? Although getting something new and shiny in place fast is tempting, urgency is best applied toward establishing (or improving) a strategic plan ­ a plan which is known and understood throughout the organization, not just among a few high-level administrators or IT gurus. Including technology as a component of your strategic plan can really improve timelines and what is possible. It also mitigates the problem of staff spinning their wheels unproductively, pursuing things that don't align with the organization's direction, losing focus, and developing unrealistic timeline expectations. Here's a basic roadmap toward success:Identify Business Needs & Develop Business Use CasesIt sounds elementary, but the importance of defining business needs first and putting them in priority order cannot be overstated. This list should be a living document that evolves as needed. Collaborate with others to ensure you get the best list possible. Build a use case for each need so a layperson will understand the problem and the desired solution; this will pay big dividends later when other partners are engaged.Ancillary Support EngagementAfter your business needs and use cases have been established, review them with ancillary personnel ­ whomever you need to keep taking small steps forward. This step may entail a series of meetings with professionals in the IT and procurement spaces, among others. The initial goal is to expose them to what you need to achieve at a high level and get their initial input and feedback. They may have recommendations relative to existing enterprise solutions, developing an in-house solution, or procurement avenues. It's also a good place to start identifying what tentative project schedules may look like. You will find a need to double back to these partners periodically until a solution is in place.ResearchYou may reach out to other states to see what solutions they have adopted, see what's available through cooperative contracts, and leverage your CIO or technology associations ... there are lots of ways to go about this. Take care to avoid tunnel vision on a particular vendor or product. Focus on your business needs ­ that target you need to hit, rather than your initial feeling about which bow and arrow are most likely to hit it.Strategic PlanningNow that you have your needs established and potential ideas for technology that can address them, build them into your agency's strategic plan. Ensure executive leaders have input and review/approval opportunity, and that they are committed to providing ongoing support as needed. The worst thing is a great plan without the juice to make it happen, especially when inevitable setbacks are encountered. When applicable, don't forget to include fiscal year budget requests in the plan! Use a Gantt chart or other tool to create visibility around targeted project tasks and milestones.The digital era isn't going away. Embracing it starts with a mindset, which must be followed by strategic action to achieve success in the short and long term. A common trait among successful businesses is their prioritization of technology for optimizing service delivery
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