Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Police Technology Police Technology Chapter Twenty Police Technology Implementing and Managing Technology

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Learning Objectives Understand Steering Committee and Implementation Team Understand Steering Committee and Implementation Team Explore the use of Consultants Explore the use of Consultants Exposed to the concept of Business Reengineering Plan (BPR) Exposed to the concept of Business Reengineering Plan (BPR) Concepts of Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation and Sole Source Procurement Concepts of Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation and Sole Source Procurement

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Why Technology Projects Fail Vendors are not forthright Vendors are not forthright Technologies are new and there has been little research or evaluation Technologies are new and there has been little research or evaluation Decision makers don’t perform adequate research Decision makers don’t perform adequate research Purchasing scheme requires low-bid purchase Purchasing scheme requires low-bid purchase Unreasonable user expectations Unreasonable user expectations

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Why Technology Projects Fail Decision makers view the potential of a technology and not the reality Decision makers view the potential of a technology and not the reality Decision makers fail to account for how a technology will change an organization Decision makers fail to account for how a technology will change an organization Decision makers fail to consider changes to existing systems or practices Decision makers fail to consider changes to existing systems or practices

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Why Technology Projects Fail A review of the reasons for failure indicate that what is needed is leadershipleadership

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Who should Lead? The more complex the project, the more the project is likely to change the organization, or the more newer skills required by employees - indicate the need for a dedicated manager The more complex the project, the more the project is likely to change the organization, or the more newer skills required by employees - indicate the need for a dedicated manager

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Planning Planning committees should encompass a wide variety of users. Steering committees are used on larger projects to garner political and financial support from stakeholders – often those outside the agency

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Planning The Steering Committee develops goals, while a second team – the implementation team is involved in the actual development. The Steering Committee develops goals, while a second team – the implementation team is involved in the actual development. The Implementation Team explores: The Implementation Team explores: Current assets and resources Current assets and resources Current infrastructure Current infrastructure End user requirements End user requirements The implementation team takes the steering committees goals and develop objectives. The implementation team takes the steering committees goals and develop objectives.

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Activity Steps for Planning Process ProcessActivity Identify ProjectAssess Needs, develop justifications Preliminary ApprovalDevelop Steering committee, political support, identify funding sources Refine projectDevelop project implementation team, refine specifications, obtain funding Issue Request for Proposal Identify potential vendors Evaluate ResponsesCompare product, price, terms and vendor history Select VendorNegotiate the contract, develop solid project completion timelines Manage the contractCheck for compliance, test system, accept completion

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Paving the Cow Path Refers to the process of tending to overlay a new technology on a prior business practice. Fails to account for how a technology can change a business process. Common Source of failure and problems

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Consultants A consultant is often used to bring expertise into an organization. They supplement in-house talent: A consultant is often used to bring expertise into an organization. They supplement in-house talent: Software engineering Software engineering System design System design Leadership Leadership Leadership Contract negotiating, etc. Contract negotiating, etc.

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Consultant versus contracting Consultants are usually hired for a relatively short time and for a very specific task. When the task is complete, their services are over. On the other hand, a contracted service, or employee, tends to be a long-term relationship Consultants are usually hired for a relatively short time and for a very specific task. When the task is complete, their services are over. On the other hand, a contracted service, or employee, tends to be a long-term relationship

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Business Process Reengineering Somewhat the opposite of paving the cow path. It is taking a ground-up look at how business is conducted and how technology may change the process

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Losing People Law enforcement tends to offer jobs with liberal retirement benefits. Law enforcement tends to offer jobs with liberal retirement benefits. Law enforcement Law enforcement People who develop expertise are often courted by the private sector. People who develop expertise are often courted by the private sector. People often sometimes the money. People often sometimes the money.

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Losing People Money may not be the prime motivator. Some potential solutions to losing expertise are: Money may not be the prime motivator. Some potential solutions to losing expertise are: Develop talents younger. Develop talents younger. Create an Information Technology career track in law enforcement. Create an Information Technology career track in law enforcement. Recognize effort. Recognize effort. Diversify assignments Diversify assignments Broadbanding Broadbanding

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Contracting or Outsourcing Somewhat similar, however: Contracting tends to be for a longer period of time and for a broader range of service Outsourcing is much like consulting, an effort to bring in specific, short-term expertise

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster RFP and RFQ a means to combat fraud and increase government efficiency a competitive bid process is used: a means to combat fraud and increase government efficiency a competitive bid process is used: Request for Proposal Request for Proposal Used for items generally available from a wide assortment of private firms. Used for items generally available from a wide assortment of private firms. Used to get the best price Used to get the best price

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster RFP and RFQ Request for Quotation Request for Quotation Used for more complex purchases Used for more complex purchases Not all RFQ processes are the same Not all RFQ processes are the same May award the contract on things other than price – May award the contract on things other than price – Best product Best product Service Service Reputation Reputation Value, etc. Value, etc.

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Cooperative or Pooled Purchase Different government agencies, either horizontally or vertically combine their purchasing power to get a better price or value. Different government agencies, either horizontally or vertically combine their purchasing power to get a better price or value.

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Sole-Source Procurement Generally, the vendor is the only private firm providing the service

Copyright Protected 2005:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster Police Technology Police Technology Find out more about Forensic ScienceForensic Science at Forensic Sciencewww.forensicprofiles.com