StraightTalk

Cloud services first: a next-generation shared services policy for government

We believe it is time for governments to elevate their policy thinking about cloud services to confront their ICT strategy conundrum. They must address increasing fiscal constraints and disappointment with existing approaches to boosting ICT productivity with an approach that enables cross-agency sharing.

ICT remains mostly in-house, but cloud services adoption is growing

Our recent survey of 63 Australian CIOs across a range of sectors reveals a slightly surprising picture of the reality of ICT management compared to media hype: it is still about managing the people, processes, and technologies of the in-house ICT department. However, momentum for cloud services adoption is expected to build during the next few years.

Government policy-makers should level the playing field for cloud services

Government policy-makers need to work harder to create a level playing field for cloud services adoption, mindful of the potential for a type I procurement error (buying a "bad" cloud service) or a type II procurement error (buying a "bad" in-house, shared, or outsourced service, when a cloud service would have been better).

Oracle Policy Automation unscrambles complexity in government

Oracle Policy Automation, a component of Oracle's public sector application suite, is a powerful tool with which to reduce the complexity that plagues government processes and systems in legal and policy environments.

More agile ICT is an executive leadership issue

It is time for senior executives to understand and embrace more agile approaches to sourcing and managing ICT. Leadership is required to see agile approaches as prudent and effective, and to authorize staff to concentrate on the ends and be more flexible about the means.

Government cloud: agencies need shopping skills, not just cloud stores

Many governments are implementing cloud services portals – "cloud stores" – to encourage cloud services adoption and provide "trusted" shopping experiences for agencies. But the focus of government cloud strategy should be on encouraging organizational learning in agencies about why, how, when, and where to buy cloud services.

Amazon heralds a warming of Australia’s digital economy

Amazon recently announced that it will open a data center in Sydney. The industry iconoclast is like a migratory bird that is a harbinger of the change of seasons: its arrival heralds a warming of Australia's digital economy.

“Cloud first” raises expectations of innovation

Some executives view "cloud-first" ICT policy as counter-productive because it raises unrealistic expectations and leads to activity that may be viewed as inefficient and poorly planned, while others appreciate its power as a challenge to the ICT status quo. In essence, the value of "cloud first" is that it authorizes and even requires agency executives to look beyond the constraints of current ICT procurement practices and to ask the question: "is there a better, more agile way to use ICT to achieve our policy and service delivery outcomes?"

“Cloud-first” ICT policy is better for government than “cloud last”

The New Zealand government recently announced an all-of-government cloud computing approach which features a positive "cloud-first" statement of intent for ICT procurement, which is at odds with the more theoretical "cloud-neutral" policy position of the Australian federal government.

A new Investment Management Standard for government

The Victorian State Government’s Department of Treasury and Finance in Australia recently issued the latest version of its popular Investment Management Standard. Ovum recommends that all agencies review the Investment Management Standard website and consider adopting its practices.