Abstract

The Hidden Value of GIS Requirements Discovery and Organizational Engagement
Track: Federal Applications and Enterprise Management
Authors: Mike McDonald

Before developing their Integrated Environmental Data Management System (IEDMS) GIS, the National Institutes of Health, Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) had broadly utilized ArcGIS software for years without methodically exploring their organizational requirements for GIS or documenting a strategic vision for enterprise GIS at NIH. The Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund supported a much narrower use for GIS going back almost a decade, but before embarking on a major consolidation of their core mission applications and an overhaul of their integrated GIS component (CIMS3), they engaged a large consulting firm to develop comprehensive requirements and specifications. CDFI and DEP pursued very different approaches to GIS requirements development for their projects, and both learned important lessons about the enormous value of discovery and organizational engagement in defining the role of GIS in their missions. In this session, DEP and CDFI will share their experiences and lessons learned.