Law and Order

JUL 2012

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FOCUS: INTEROPERABILITY & DATA SHARING 10 Things Chiefs Need To Know About IT SUMMARY Today's agencies have a lot of choices when it comes to information technology (IT). Here are 10 tips to help chiefs choose the right technology for their department's needs. 10 THINGS THE CHIEF SHOULD KNOW…ABOUT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Top 10 IT considerations for the chief By Brad Brewer Mobile computing ergonomics are crucial to any frontline IT project. I covered through an increase in productivity and a decrease in lost revenue due to spoiled handwritten tickets. Special attention should be given to processes that take offi- n the past, only ruggedized clamshell notebooks would be considered for law enforcement use. Today, hand- held devices such as a BlackBerry can receive dispatch tick- ets to query both people and vehicles. Even non-ruggedized Apple iPads and iPhones are forming the basis for some agencies' mobile computing solutions rather than the newer ruggedized so- lutions that are available. In these times, a chief must make the right choices when looking at technology. 1) Business Process Review When considering a mobile computing project or any IT upgrade, there is always someone in Finance or Accounting who is going to ask questions like, "What is this going to cost? Why is it more efficient? How much more efficient is it? Is this going to save us money in other places?" A chief should always consider a com- plete review of the agency's business processes to determine if technology will remove redundancies that have been in place sim- ply because "That's the way we have always done it." Something as simple as electronic ticketing has been embraced by many agencies that have now seen the entire project costs re- 30 LAW and ORDER I July 2012 cers off the road and keep them in the office. Chiefs need to ask, "Does our mobile reporting software allow the officers to write the report from the vehicle?" Does the officer writing the report have to duplicate any previously keyed-in information by the 9-1-1 dispatcher? Or is the system a true "One-time data entry system?" The officer should then be able to send that report wire- lessly through commercial cellular networks or an agency's own private data radio network. 2) Micro-Management Kills Productivity The right project team is the key to any large-scale procurement or upgrade of mobile computing systems. The project team will require an executive champion (chief) to show support all the way up the chain of command. This project team needs complete au- tonomy while getting clear written direction from management as to objectives, scope, budgets, timelines and goal. Rank plays a role in any project team, but the inclusion of frontline officers is a must for any successful project. The management of change and front-end user expectations is critical. Upgrades or process changes cannot be seen as directives from above; rather, they should be driven from the lowest levels espe- cially among the largest peer group of frontline staff. IT support

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