Working with Government

1
Working with Government

• Steve Botica
• CIO Ministry for the Environment

2
Who am I?

• Government sector background
• Australia NZ
• Transport sector in WA and NSW
• 15 years in NZ public sector
• Ministry of Transport (1.5 years) Office of the
  Auditor-General (6 years) Ministry of Economic
  Development (1.5 years) Ministry of Education
  (2.5 years) and Ministry for the Environment
  (3.5 years)
• 9 years at CIO level
• Information Management, Document Records
  Management functions, Classic IT functions
  Library/Information Centre services Web team
  Ministerial Correspondence.

3
Current ICT systems infrastructure

• In house facilities and support staff 320
  people 3 locations Akld, Wgtn, Chch
• Microsoft shop for core SQL, Exchange, Windows,
  Office etc.
• Virtual servers
• JADE HR system
• Technology 1 Financials
• Contract Management System(in house - based on
  Hummingbird Perfectus)

4
Current ICT systems infrastructure

• Web environment Open Source(Linux and Drupal)
• Web based survey tool (Perseus)
• Goldmine CRM
• Liberty (library) and Equality (Records
  management)
• Remote working capability (Xena)

5
Directions for future procurement

• Panel agreements for goods and services
• Integrated solutions
• Outsourced services? Maybe

6
Whats important in the near future?

• Remote access
• Support services to the business
• Web enabled applications
• Workflow
• Identity management

7
Tips tricks on engaging with government agencies
8
Show me the money!

• Government sets Budget in May
• Lead in time for budget bids variable
• Some agencies might not know their exact budget
  until the Vote is tabled
• Capital done similar timeframes (but usually
  managed centrally)
• Once identified, Ive known some agencies to take
  until August/September to get an approved budget.
• Baseline updates October March
• Treasurys mechanism for finding out how things
  are going
• Internal mechanisms probably in place and
  reporting on progress
• October Little change in approach or plans
• March last opportunity to fine tune and identify
  new spending.

9
Show me the money!

• Certainty, prices and other pressures
• Contracts disclose budget?
• Fixed price vs. Time Materials my view
• Deliverables
• Specific
• Time bound
• Linked to payment
• Intellectual property rights (State Services
  Commission work New Guidelines for Treatment of
  Government Intellectual Property Rights)
• http//www.e.govt.nz/resources/news/2008
• Liability clauses!

10
Accountability Framework

• Front page of the Dominion Post / Christchurch
  Press / New Zealand Herald

11
Clark feels 'let down' by Environment Ministry
Ministry of the Environment first to feel cuts
Why did ministry flout its own processes? UPTON
AT LARGE SIMON UPTON
Ministry apologises for Leigh misinformation
National takes axe to green schemes
Ministry botched Curran hiring - report
Ministry releases controversial chapter
Ministry jumps gun on new role
12
Accountability Framework contd

• Transparent Government Electronic Tendering
  Service (GETS)
• Mandatory requirements and guidelines (Ministry
  of Economic Development web site www.med.govt.nz)
• Internal policies and processes
• Legal sign off
• Ministerial/Cabinet approval (sometimes)
• Auditors and other parties
• State Services Commission
• The Treasury
• Internal auditors
• External auditors

13
Accountability Framework contd

• Level playing field(Process, process, process.)
• What one knows - everyone has to know
• I prefer group briefings sharing all questions.
  No subsequent 11s
• Responses - Give me the answer to my question(s)
  then include added value options

14
Accountability Framework contd

• Ministers and Official Information Act requests
• Premise - Release unless a good reason to
  withhold
• Commercial in confidence (Well)
• Reviews of decision to release information -
  Ombudsman

15
Our relationship

• I know what you want but its not what I can
  give you Divorce?
• Should we just be friends?

16
Questions?