When we find ourselves in uncertain times. we all ask similar questions – “Will budgets be cut?” “Is my job safe?” “Will our department get any funding this year?” The list of concerns and worries go on, and all are valid. These are good questions to consider, as they bring up important items to plan for.
The First Step to GIS Sustainability
The sustainability of your GIS program relies on you and your team. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:
- Have I made my GIS recession-proof?
- Have I educated my organization about the benefits of GIS?
- Have I showcased impactful projects?
- Have I quantified return on investment?
- Is our GIS program seen as indispensable?
As GIS professionals, we understand the importance of GIS as a decision-making platform. But do decision-makers in your organization have the same understanding? One of the “Keys to GIS Success” is to educate your organization. If you don’t, who will? Many organizations are ahead of the curve and have checked every box needed to ensure sustainability and prominence. One of the key tools being used nationwide is a GIS Executive Playbook.
GIS Executive Playbooks
You must educate your organization about the power and indispensability of your GIS platform. An Executive Playbook (EP) has been used by numerous organizations as a way to tell the story of the GIS program to non-GIS people. A good EP begins with the GIS strategic planning process and highlights and explains graphically how GIS is (and should be) embedded in all facets of an organization.
An EP should include:
- An overview of how GIS aligns with, supports, and is essential to achieving organization-wide goals.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your GIS program.
- Success stories featuring impactful GIS projects.
- A game plan for the next few years.
- Vision, goals, and objectives for GIS within your organization.
Examples of Executive Playbooks
Gwinnett County, Georgia used their EP to show how ingrained their multi-decade GIS program is to the success of the County. The City of Lawrenceville, Georgia used its EP to highlight the progress of its first two years of GIS implementation.
Key Performance Indicators Featured in the City of Lawrenceville's Executive Playbook.
Bay County, Florida’s GIS EP focused on its numerous success stories supporting emergency management and acting as the information hub for the county. Jennifer Morgan, GIS Manager at Bay County, explains, “The GIS EP was a perfect way for us to showcase our GIS program to executives and the public. Decision-makers went from knowing that a GIS existed to understanding that it was indispensable.”
Bay County's Success Stories Featured in their Executive Playbook.
For more information and/or a remote presentation for your team, contact GTG at moreinfo@geotg.com or 888-757-4222. You can also learn more at GISPlan.com.