Government ICT Update - August 2012

From the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

IN THIS ISSUE:

  1. Welcome 
  2. Microsoft Framework Agreement Update
  3. Common Operating Environment Programme update
  4. Common Web Services update
  5. Cloud Programme update
  6. 2012-13 ICT Development Pipeline Candidates
  7. New social media resources issued
  8. Upcoming Events
  9. More Information

 

Welcome

The government ICT programme, overseen by the Office of the GCIO in conjunction with the ICT Council, is working to improve asset management, unlock value in the information we hold, optimise investment in service delivery and channels, and encourage innovation.

In June, the Government CIO, Colin MacDonald, spoke to the GOVIS conference. The key themes of his speech highlighted progress in opening government data, outlining the vision for collaboration in agency clusters for government ICT, and emphasising the need to be ‘risk aware’, not ‘risk averse’. These themes were elaborated on in a morning conference session led by the Office of the GCIO, which covered the progress made with existing common capabilities, and outlined the direction for some of the key initiatives currently being developed. Colin MacDonald’s speech can be found here.

 

Microsoft Framework Agreement Update

In June, the Department of Internal Affairs signed a three-year framework agreement with Microsoft. This agreement treats government as a single customer, and includes public service departments, local government, and most of the wider state sector.

The agreement is expected to provide substantial financial benefits to agencies. The Department of Internal Affairs is providing advice to agencies on implementing the agreement to best realise the benefits it offers. Agencies are invited to contact the Office of the GCIO for further individual guidance on implementing the agreement.

 

Common Operating Environment Programme update

Microsoft has signalled that security updates for Windows XP will cease in April 2014. The all-of-government Common Operating Environment (COE) Programme will provide guidance and support to state sector and local government organisations to help them transition their desktop computing environments to supported operating systems and office productivity suites.

The COE programme recently surveyed state sector agencies and confirmed that across government, the majority of desktops are still running on Windows XP, with a large number of desktops also using Office 2003. The programme is very grateful to the 115 agencies that completed the survey.

The COE Programme is focused on putting practical capabilities in place to support agencies as they transition.

A shared workspace has been established to provide information agencies can use to expedite their transition planning and implementation. A COE reference architecture, and supporting solution architectures for Microsoft Windows, VMWare, and Citrix will be available to agencies on 15 August, and agencies will receive further communication at this time.

If you have any queries about the programme, please contact Programme Manager Ron Peake at ron.peake@dia.govt.nz

 

Common Web Services update

The Common Web Services Professional Services RFP was released in May and 52 responses were received. Evaluation of these responses is underway and the contract negotiations are underway.

The Common web Services platform RFP was released at the end of June and responses are expected in by the 14th of August.

 

Cloud Programme update

The New Zealand Government Cloud Programme has completed its work to assess and qualify the opportunity of a cloud services provisioning and delivery model for ICT in government.

Cabinet will soon consider papers outlining a coordinated approach to managing the Government’s adoption of cloud computing, and a proposal to implement office productivity services as the first suite of cloud-based services across government agencies. The papers bring together a robust and in-depth assessment of the opportunities, benefits and key issues.

A wide range of information and advice has been sought locally and internationally. Engagement with the New Zealand marketplace has helped the programme in forming its conclusions about the opportunity of the cloud.

It is clear that the cloud model provides a significant opportunity for productivity gains and innovation across the public sector, and to contribute to service delivery improvements while reducing agency technology costs. One of the intended outcomes is to create a government application store that provides 'as a service' offerings to government agencies.

The programme expects to provide agencies with an update on the future direction of the Government Cloud Programme following Cabinet consideration in August.

 

2012-2013 ICT Development Pipeline Candidates

The ICT Development Pipeline is working to implement opportunities identified in the six business cases delivered in the 2011-12 year, and planning is also well advanced on the work programme for 2012-13.

There are a number of new candidates for the Pipeline, and there are also those that build on the capabilities already developed. The focus remains on delivering common capabilities with applicability across the whole, or a substantial part, of the government and wider state sector.

The investment opportunities include: Public Sector Identity & Access Management; transition of unsupported desktop environments and optimising ongoing desktop operations; the potential for Platform as a Service and Desktop as a Service; the potential benefits that could be delivered from a Documents and Records Management solution; secure connectivity and management for mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones; authoritative data sources and interoperability and intrusion detection.

For any queries about the ICT Development Pipeline, contact the Office of the GCIO: gcio@dia.govt.nz

 

New social media resources issued

Advice on how to manage social media mishaps and a case study of a social media initiative in a government agency have been added to the existing ‘Social Media in Government Guidance’ published by DIA. This additional material is in response to keen interest in up-to-date advice as more agencies make use of social media.

The guide to managing social media mishaps sets out practical steps your agency can take when social media “goes horribly wrong.” It recognises that these mishaps can cause damage to an agency’s reputation and need to be managed carefully. Consideration of specific government needs such as legislative requirements and code of conduct for public servants’ behaviour has been included.

In response to requests for best practice case studies, DIA selected the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) use of Facebook to support breastfeeding mothers. This channel is part of MoH’s broader communications programme to help women feel comfortable breastfeeding for longer.

The ‘Social Media in Government’ guidance is to encourage best practice in social media use. The guidance provide useful templates and tools for planning use of these important and rapidly proliferating services, giving an overview of the strengths, weaknesses, benefits and risks. The guidance, including these new resources, is available at: http://ict.govt.nz/programme/rethink-online/implementing-rethink-online/....

If you have any feedback, or further case studies to share with colleagues across government, please get in touch with the Digital Engagement Team at DIA: DigitalEngagementTeam@dia.govt.nz

 

Upcoming Events

 

3 September      Digital Continuity Training Course 9.00am-4.00pm, Wellington   

Archives New Zealand is running a one-day course designed to raise awareness of and explore the subject of digital continuity. The course will provide attendees with a framework for understanding and communicating the challenges faced in maintaining digital information. Attendees will learn the language of digital continuity and assist them in developing a planned approach to managing digital continuity risks, as well as identifying opportunities for data reuse.

The course will also give attendees the opportunity to carry out a Digital Continuity Health Check on their own organisation using indicators developed and explained during the day, which they can then later draw on to develop or contribute to a targeted action plan.

The course is substantially based on case studies inspired by real-life examples of the challenges faced by organisations in maintaining digital continuity. More information is available on the Archives New Zealand website, or by contacting polly.martin@dia.govt.nz. To book a place on the course, register here.

 

September & November      Using Social Media for Effective Public Engagement

Miriam Lips, Professor of e-Government, Victoria University, Laura Sommer, Manager Digital Engagement, DIA, and Simon Wright, Senior Advisor, Consultation and Engagement, Wellington City Council will deliver the executive short course ‘Using Social Media for Effective Public Engagement’ (dates below). The course will explore the opportunities, challenges and conditions under which social media can be used by public sector agencies to achieve effective public engagement. It provides an overview of the latest international experience and works with practical examples from New Zealand.

Course Dates:

  • 4 September – Wellington
  • 29 - 30 November – Wellington
  • 20 - 21 September – Auckland

The course is designed for:

  • Public sector staff with responsibility for and/or involvement in public engagement initiatives.
  • Representatives from NGOs and community organisations with responsibility for and/or involvement in public engagement initiatives.
  • Political representatives

Participants can register here. For more information, contact profdev@vuw.ac.nz.

 

More information

This newsletter is intended to update you on progress with the government ICT programme. We invite your feedback to help us ensure it meets your needs.

Please keep an eye out for future updates, and contact the Office of the GCIO to share your views or offer assistance.

Stuart Wakefield

Director, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

 

If you have any questions regarding this GCIO Update, please contact:

Matt Ross,

Manager Agency Engagement,

gcio@dia.govt.nz

phone (04) 494 5775

 

Your comments, questions, and feedback are invited.