Introduction

Great Lakes Council was seeking the development of an ICT Strategic Plan. Council requested that this project be given a priority and therefore is seeking to commence the development an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Strategic Plan to meet the needs of the organisation.

The plan should support Council elements of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IP&R Framework) including:

• Great Lakes 2030
• Community Strategic Plan & Resourcing Strategies (10 Year)
• Delivery Program (4 Year)
• Operational Program (1 Year)
• NSW Government ICT Strategy 2012
• Results of Service Delivery Review

The Challenge

The scope included the whole of Council in respect of:

• Identify Strategic Objectives that rely on ICT
• Demands of ICT services and systems
• Capabilities of ICT services and systems
• Address any ICT issues
• Emerging ICT trends and how these could assist council business
• Internal Customers, Management, key stakeholders and end users

These items were to be collated and brought together as a holistic plan to improve and revitalise Council ICT across all divisions.

The Solution

The following activities were undertaken to obtain extensive feedback and insight with regard to requirements and capability in developing the ICT Strategy.

1. Interviewed Council Divisions
2. Input from Community Survey
3. Considered all inputs – Council / NSW ICT / Community / Emerging Trends / ICT Projects / Planned Reforms
4. Looked at ‘Big Picture’ to create Vision and Goal Statements

The following were areas that were considered ‘key themes’ in developing the ICT Strategy.

• Develop current Interim Action Plan for project plans and Steering Committee
• Consistent Processes across Council
• Knowledge Management – consistent source of knowledge and data
• Communication – smart devices, phones, emails, web-site
• Consolidating Components – web, data, documents / images, mail
• Linking Council Departments – how departments link information
• Intranet – Info, search and discovery, policies, linked to records, procedures
• Website Management – common approval and management improvement
• Training – improve skills and develop productivity
• Resourcing

The ICT Strategy provided a mission and vision along with goal statements which outlined specific action plans and associated resources. The plan identified standards and frameworks which would facilitate improvements and greater efficiency and effectiveness.