Chapter 4 – Information Technology

42010.4 ITS Selection Process

• The Department’s vehicle for selection of technological alternatives is the FSRFeasibility Study Reports. When preparing an FSRFeasibility Study Reports, the above selection criteria shall be utilized as a basis. When automation is determined to be the approach to solving a business problem, the Department shall choose the automated system which best accomplishes the tasks involved.

• The Department currently maintains a multi-tiered automation platform that offers a wide spectrum of hardware/software choices and which provides several databases accessible to applications for data sharing.

• A significant feature of automated systems is the ability to share data. Benefits of data sharing include the saving of valuable input time and, in many cases, may solve cost justification problems by reducing or redirecting data input time and associated personnel years.

• There are many automation platforms available for expansion in the Department. However, there are also many elements listed in the selection criteria that lead to the appropriate solution. Regardless of the business problem, selection criteria, or platform (hardware/software) involved, State policy requires that the FSRFeasibility Study Reports shall show a cost reduction, a viable cost avoidance, increased revenue, operational necessity, or be the result of a legislative mandate before approval of the concept can become a funded project.

• In many instances, the FSRFeasibility Study Reports may have a concurrently associated pilot project to provide specific performance, cost, and technological justification for the continuance of the project.