6.2. Current state: Public...Current state: Public Communication and Outreach

7. STEP 2: Imagine the Future

It is important to understand what range of ICT services are currently available within the parliament. More specifically it should be established what the parliament's abilities are in terms of: developing and managing its own ICT infrastructure (e.g. data centre, networks and cabling); procuring, managing and maintaining its hard and software ware inventories (e.g PCs, printers, servers, licensing etc); managing systems administration & data management tasks; supporting end-users and providing help-desk services and training; initiating and managing end-to-end ICT system implementation projects to effectively deploy ICT applications and systems exist to support parliamentary work.

To get a complete overview the relevant questions are: whether there is an ICT department or office (with its own resources or budget); what its mandate, roles and responsibilities are; how the department or office is organized; and which teams are operative offering which type of services. Also whether the department or office uses in-house staff or outsources or contracts portions of its work. For sample questions regarding services, processes, roles and responsibilities and governance within the area of ICT, see also Appendix ICT 1.1.

This information is particularly relevant for Steps 2, and 4 of the strategic planning process, where the strategic vision, mission, goals and objectives are set, the gap assessed, and recommendations and action plans formulated. Some parliaments may score high on all the above listed abilities while others may score lower. Depending on an assessment of these abilities, realistic objectives and solutions can be formulated. It should be noted that for gathering this type of information more will be retrieved through Q&A sessions and interviews with the Head of the ICT department, office or unit and/or other senior ICT staff than through desk research.

ICT Governance

For setting strategic objectives and making strategic recommendations it is also crucial to know how the development of ICT is currently governed, planned and managed within the parliament. Specifically it may be important to understand whether a specific committee exists for ICT governance, strategic development, and promotion and oversight of parliament-wide ICT policies and procedures for security, procurement, system management and development. Gathering this type of information is relevant as it may tell something about the “maturity” of ICT in the parliament.

SWOT analysis

For more details on how to produce the SWOT analysis for ICT see examples in Appendices ICT 1.2 and ICT 1.3 respectively, where the Templates 1.3 and 1.4 are applied.

6.2. Current state: Public...Current state: Public Communication and Outreach

7. STEP 2: Imagine the Future