OSC on track with historic shift from
BySHERRYHALBROOK
Changeisbeginningtoripplethrough
stateagencies,andit’shittingtheir
informationtechnology(IT)unitsfirstas
theystarttostripawaytheirheavy
relianceonprivateconsultantsand
transferthetechnologyand
responsibilitiestostateemployees.
Facedwithhugebudgetdeficits,they
aredoingittosavemoney,andit’sjust
whatPEFhasbeenurgingformanyyears.
TheOfficeoftheStateComptroller
(OSC)startedplanningforthechangein
2007,andisnowwellintoapainstaking
effortthatinvolvesapproximately21PEF
members.Theyarelearningtechnical
skillsandknowledgefrom15consultants
representingsevendifferentprivate
contractors.
LEARNINGEXPERIENCE—InAlbany,PEFmemberNickSinkevichreviewsanIT
“Historically,ourstatecomptrollers
problemwithconsultantMikeHaverlyofCGIandDeputyStateComptrollerKevin
havecalledforagencies,especiallythe
Belden,chiefofinformationtechnologyattheOfficeoftheS
stateTransportationDepartment,to
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reducetheirrelianceonexpensive happennow,butit’sveryhardforstate areusedtointroducethenewtechnology
consultants,”saidPEFPresidentKen agenciestodoitwhentheyareconstantly andthentransferthoseskillsand
Brynien.“It’spartofthestate barragedwithsalespitchesfromvendors responsibilitiestotheOSCemployees.
comptroller’smissiontoaudithowstate whowantthemtobuymoreservices.” Eachconsultantismentoringoneormore
agenciesfunctionandrecommendwaysto AlthoughBlueandChiarelloareIT oftheOSCITemployees(nearlyallPEF
improve. specialist3s(thejobtitlemostinvolvedin members)inthatprocess.
“Now,wecommendComptroller theproject)attheOSC,neitherofthemis BeldensaidDiNapoliagreedtoadd
ThomasDiNapoliforrecognizingtheneed directlyinvolvedintheproject. somenewstaffastheexistingemployees
forthischangeinhisownoperation.It’s Nevertheless,theyarewatchingitclosely trainandpickupworkfromthe
appropriatefortheOSCtoleadthewayto andseeitasamodelortemplateother consultants.
amoreefficientandcost-effectivewayof agenciesmaywanttoemulate.
operating.” AccordingtoBelden,oneofthe Bigchallenge,butworthit
agency’smajorgoalsis“employee PEFmemberTonyDiVirgilio,a
Breakingoldhabits empowermentandengagement”andit managerofITServices1,headsagroupof
MikeBlueandMarioChiarello,co- wasuptohimtofindawaytoachieve 24OSCemployeesandconsultantswho
chairsofthePEFRegion8ITCommittee, thatgoalfortheOSC’sITstaff,identify design,developandmaintainmanyofthe
areexcitedabouttheproject,whichthey whatwaslackingintermsofskills, softwareapplicationsusedforthe
seeasthemostpromisingeffortyetbya experienceandtechnology,andfillthose agency’scomplexoperations.
stateagencytorelyonitsownstaffto needs. Onesuchoperationis
meetabigshareofitscurrentandfuture “Wewanttoshiftthemainfocusto www.openbookny.com,whichallowsother
ITchallenges.Theygivemuchofthecredit ourstaffmembersandbuildingtheir agencies,themediaandthepublictoview
toDeputyStateComptrollerKevinBelden, capabilities,whiledevelopingadefined, informationonlineaboutstateandlocal
whoisalsotheagency’schiefinformation strategicuseofconsultants,”Beldensaid. governmentagencies,suchastheir
officer(CIO),formastermindingtheshift. “Becausewealsomustaddressresource expendituresandcontracts,orhow
“There’salotofdifferencebetween constraintsandavoidlayoffs,weneedto federalstimulusfundingisbeingspent.
sayingyouwanttodoit,andactually implementoursourcingstrategysooner, “Someofthetools,suchasJAVA,for
doingitsuccessfully,”Chiarellosaid.He ratherthanlater.” achievingthistransparencyarevery
believestheeffortattheOSCwillsucceed complex,”DiVirgiliosaid.“It’svery
becauseitwasthoroughlythoughtoutin Roadmapforchange challenging,butmanyofouremployees
advance. Hisstrategyhasbeentoidentifyeach areeagertolearnthetechnologyandtake
Whilethepressurefromagrowing consultantworkingunderaprivateIT overthiswork.”
budgetdeficitisonstateagenciestofind contract,theirduties,andthetechnology Beldensaidtheagencylooksfor
better,lessexpensivewaystoprovide andskillsrequiredtodothem.Herated consultantsthathave10ormoreyearsof
services,itisnoteasytochangebehavior thetechnologyeachconsultantusesona experienceinJAVA,soit’sexpectingalot
thathasbecomeinstitutionalizedover three-tiersystem:cutting-edge;current, forstateemployeesjustlearningittotake
decades. andtrailing-edge(soontobecome over.
“Technologytransferisthebuzzword obsolete).Themiddletieroftechnologyis “Ittakestimetotransferthat
nowatmanyagencies,butitdoesn’t earmarkedfortheagency’sown informationandknowledge,”Beldensaid.
meanathingifitisn’tdoneproperly,” employees. “Sittinginaclassroomorjustwatching
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