Implementing and Managing Technology

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

Police TechnologyPolice TechnologyChapter TwentyChapter Twenty

Implementing and Managing Implementing and Managing TechnologyTechnology


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Understand Understand Steering CommitteeSteering Committee and and Implementation TeamImplementation Team

Explore the use of Explore the use of ConsultantsConsultants Exposed to the concept of Exposed to the concept of Business Business

Reengineering Plan (BPR)Reengineering Plan (BPR) Concepts of Concepts of Request for ProposalRequest for Proposal, ,

Request for QuotationRequest for Quotation and and Sole Sole Source ProcurementSource Procurement


Why Technology Projects FailWhy Technology Projects Fail

Vendors are not forthrightVendors are not forthright Technologies are new and there has Technologies are new and there has

been little research or evaluationbeen little research or evaluation Decision makers don’t perform Decision makers don’t perform

adequate researchadequate research Purchasing scheme requires low-bid Purchasing scheme requires low-bid

purchasepurchase Unreasonable user expectationsUnreasonable user expectations



Decision makers view the potential of Decision makers view the potential of a technology and not the realitya technology and not the reality

Decision makers fail to account for Decision makers fail to account for how a technology will change an how a technology will change an organizationorganization

Decision makers fail to consider Decision makers fail to consider changes to existing systems or changes to existing systems or practicespractices



A review of the A review of the reasons for failure reasons for failure indicate that what is indicate that what is needed is leadershipneeded is leadership


Who should Lead?Who should Lead?

The more complex the project, the The more complex the project, the more the project is likely to change more the project is likely to change the organization, or the more newer the organization, or the more newer skills required by employees - skills required by employees - indicate the need for a dedicated indicate the need for a dedicated managermanager


PlanningPlanning

Planning Planning committeescommittees should should encompass a wide encompass a wide variety of users.variety of users.

Steering committeesSteering committees are used on larger are used on larger projects to garner projects to garner political and political and financial support financial support from stakeholders – from stakeholders – often those outside often those outside the agencythe agency


PlanningPlanning

The The Steering CommitteeSteering Committee develops goals, develops goals, while a second team – the implementation while a second team – the implementation team is involved in the actual development.team is involved in the actual development.

The The Implementation TeamImplementation Team explores: explores: Current assets and resourcesCurrent assets and resources Current infrastructureCurrent infrastructure End user requirementsEnd user requirements

The implementation team takes the steering The implementation team takes the steering committees goals and develop objectives.committees goals and develop objectives.


Activity Steps for Planning ProcessActivity Steps for Planning ProcessProcess Activity

Identify Project Assess Needs, develop justifications

Preliminary Approval Develop Steering committee, political support, identify funding sources

Refine project Develop project implementation team, refine specifications, obtain funding

Issue Request for Proposal

Identify potential vendors

Evaluate Responses Compare product, price, terms and vendor history

Select Vendor Negotiate the contract, develop solid project completion timelines

Manage the contract Check for compliance, test system, accept completion


Paving the Cow PathPaving the Cow Path

Refers to the Refers to the process of tending process of tending to overlay a new to overlay a new technology on a technology on a prior business prior business practice.practice.

Fails to account for Fails to account for how a technology how a technology can change a can change a business process.business process.

Common Source of Common Source of failure and problemsfailure and problems


ConsultantsConsultants

A A consultantconsultant is is often used to bring often used to bring expertise into an expertise into an organization. They organization. They supplement in-supplement in-house talent:house talent: Software Software

engineeringengineering System designSystem design LeadershipLeadership Contract Contract

negotiating, etc.negotiating, etc.


Consultant versus contractingConsultant versus contracting

Consultants are usually hired for a Consultants are usually hired for a relatively short time and for a very relatively short time and for a very specific task. When the task is specific task. When the task is complete, their services are over. On complete, their services are over. On the other hand, a contracted service, the other hand, a contracted service, or employee, tends to be a long-term or employee, tends to be a long-term relationshiprelationship


Business Process ReengineeringBusiness Process Reengineering

Somewhat the Somewhat the opposite of paving opposite of paving the cow path. It is the cow path. It is taking a ground-up taking a ground-up look at how look at how business is business is conducted and how conducted and how technology may technology may change the processchange the process


Losing PeopleLosing People

Law enforcement Law enforcement tends to offer jobs tends to offer jobs with liberal with liberal retirement benefits.retirement benefits.

People who develop People who develop expertise are often expertise are often courted by the courted by the private sector.private sector.

People often People often sometimes the sometimes the money.money.


Losing PeopleLosing People

Money may not be the prime Money may not be the prime motivator. Some potential solutions motivator. Some potential solutions to losing expertise are:to losing expertise are: Develop talents younger.Develop talents younger. Create an Information Technology Create an Information Technology

career track in law enforcement.career track in law enforcement. Recognize effort.Recognize effort. Diversify assignmentsDiversify assignments BroadbandingBroadbanding


Contracting or OutsourcingContracting or Outsourcing

Somewhat similar, Somewhat similar, however:however: Contracting tends Contracting tends

to be for a longer to be for a longer period of time and period of time and for a broader range for a broader range of serviceof service

Outsourcing is Outsourcing is much like much like consulting, an effort consulting, an effort to bring in specific, to bring in specific, short-term short-term expertiseexpertise


RFP and RFQRFP and RFQ

a means to combat fraud and a means to combat fraud and increase government efficiency a increase government efficiency a competitive bid process is used:competitive bid process is used:

Request for ProposalRequest for Proposal Used for items generally available from Used for items generally available from

a wide assortment of private firms.a wide assortment of private firms. Used to get the best priceUsed to get the best price


RFP and RFQRFP and RFQ

Request for QuotationRequest for Quotation Used for more complex purchasesUsed for more complex purchases Not all RFQ processes are the sameNot all RFQ processes are the same May award the contract on things other May award the contract on things other

than price –than price – Best productBest product ServiceService ReputationReputation Value, etc.Value, etc.


Cooperative or Pooled PurchaseCooperative or Pooled Purchase

Different government agencies, Different government agencies, either horizontally or vertically either horizontally or vertically combine their purchasing power to combine their purchasing power to get a better price or value.get a better price or value.


Sole-Source ProcurementSole-Source Procurement

Generally, the Generally, the vendor is the only vendor is the only private firm private firm providing the serviceproviding the service


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