In my current work, I’m a management consultant and internal performance auditor for a state agency.  Simply put, I analyze existing state programs and service functions; I investigate their strengths and weaknesses, and identify strategies that can help them to be the best they can be.

I love my job.  Finding ways to make stuff better is a part of my natural make up. It’s just what I do.

I’ve been on this job for about a month now. And the program that I’ve evaluating is full of problems.  But in talking to its employees, I quickly realized that it is has not always been this way.  Back in the day, this particular program was STATE OF THE ART.  So what has happened over the years?

Nothing.  Nothing has happened.  Nothing has CHANGED. They do things today, very much like they were done 25 years ago.  They’ve half-assed implemented pieces of technology, but their business processes have not changed to reflect new technologies, or changes in population growth, or an increase in business requests.

Of course, this is a bad idea.

Technology is our friend.  Say it with me. Technology is our friend. However, it is important to recognize that the implementation of technology should change the way business is conducted.

One of the major recommendations that I’m going to make to the program that I’m analyzing is to match your business needs with your technology functions.  If you need to enter data, make sure that your technology makes data entry easier.  If you need to search for data, have a well developed search function.  If you need to preserve data, have adequate back-ups (electronic or some other form). If you need to communicate with an audience, make sure that you have the technology in place to make your communication efforts strong ones.

Know what you do, and let your business processes guide your technology decisions. Technology can help improve the way you do business. Understand that implementing new technologies should spark changes in your processes.  Things should not stay the same.