CASE STUDY: DHCS: IT staff embedded with business improves communications, consolidation effort

CASE STUDY

As part of the statewide IT consolidation effort the Department of Health Care Services implemented a hybrid model in which the decentralized IT staff physically remained with the perspective business entities they serve while directly reporting to the centralized IT executive staff. The intent was to continue to support the Department’s business IT needs while consolidating and standardizing its IT infrastructure.

The success of this effort was realized as the decentralized IT became a conduit through which the reporting relationship allowed better communications with IT and program area executive staff. Through this communication the Senior IT staff was better able to anticipate the program area IT needs and redirect additional resources allowing the business to meet the consolidation effort and stay ahead of the ever changing technology landscape. In addition the utilization of the decentralized staff also allowed the department to maintain the highest level of support for the Governor’s departmental consolidation efforts during this prolonged period of economic difficulty. As the program area and IT partnership continue to strengthen through this hybrid model, centralized IT staff have been physically moved and integrated into the program areas. This move has further strengthened the communication and program knowledge between IT and program area staff.

Contributor: Gordon McGregor, Department of Health Care Services

Source: Insights for IT: Program Area and IT Relationships (Page 22)
Information Technology Leadership Academy – Class XIX