Team
This project is led by Dr. Sergei Andronikov of George Mason University (GMU) and Walter Svekla of M&M Solutions, LLC (MMS). As an Associate Professor in the School of Management, Dr. Andronikov endeavors to demonstrate the value of geo-analytical thinking to business students, the larger business community, and government agencies that are accustomed to thinking aspatially. M&M Solutions is a strategic management consultancy applying GIS and Internet technology to solve problems relating to government services, land records management, urban planning and the environment. At M&M Solutions, Walter has been innovating methods for the thoughtful integration of GIS and geographic information into existing business and decision-making processes.
Introduction
Federal executives and program managers make decisions and solve problems that take into consideration how their organization's inputs, outputs, and outcomes vary in different places. The consideration of these factors in locations is often too general to make sense of how the organization affects or could affect a specific place. Though all government programs affect American citizens, most program managers cannot accurately say where citizens realize these affects, given the variation in contexts and interactions with other government and non-government entities. Today's geographical sciences enable highly specified knowledge about who is affecting whom across different places. The technology has advanced to where it is easier to examine complex processes in terms of geography than any other method. The use of location-based management knowledge is very empowering for any organization. The capacity to explain inputs, outputs, and outcomes where they are and where they might be enables government leaders to manage much more effective programs.
The following portfolio of business cases introduces Federal executives and program managers to the power of geographic information systems (GIS) and the general advantages of geographical science. The central theme across these business cases is, knowing where your business is...in terms of what you can and cannot affect through your own organization or in cooperation with other organizations that also develop geographical capacitates. The Federal Geographic Data Commission (FGDC) is leading the OMB Geospatial Line of Business, which is designed to support all Federal agencies in the development of their geospatial capacity. The term "geospatial" is used to characterize the broad scope of the technology, science, and governance associated with geographic information.
The business cases have been selected to cover major policy themes that consistently challenge Federal organizations. Each case begins with the National goal and identifies the potential collaboration of geospatial solutions across programs that potentially affect the problem in question. The case is examined in terms of the potential added value of utilizing geospatial techniques. Following the business cases is a more technical description of how to build the capacity and capabilities of geospatial decision-making, in terms of Federal requirements and contemporary technologies.
Geographic Thinking
This story will help the audience answer these questions:
Why do this?
What difference does it make?
What is my role?
What is the basic knowledge?
Why use the advanced methods?
The focus is on helping them understand the basic business management of inputs, outputs, and outcomes, with emphasis on the tracking of expenditures which can be thought of as all three. See the press release for PL 109-282 that should guide this description and the link to the law too:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926-1.html
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ282.109.pdf
Federal Business Cases
Discuss what is a business case and why do we need them? Each business case will include the problem, the "solution" and benefits as based on GIS, the progress of the Federal government in such capacity, the programs that may be players (from the 1000+ inventory), and insights from SMEs.
From our glossary:
Business Case (working definition) The business need that a project intends to address. A business case includes the reasons for the project, the expected business benefits, the options and alternatives, and the expected costs.
See the guidance document page - May 2007
Any other suggestions?
Business Case 1: Emergency Preparedness
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts: Dat Tran (VA)
Business Case 2: Homeland Security
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts:
Business Case 3: Transitioning Workforce
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts: Dat Tran (VA)
Business Case 4: Healthcare Networks
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts: Dat Tran (VA)
Business Case 5: Education Quality
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts:
Business Case 6: Economic Growth
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts:
Business Case 7: Energy Production
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts:
Business Case 8: Transportation Infrastructure
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts:
Business Case 9: Land Management
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts: Dat Tran (VA)
Business Case 10: Demographic Entitlements
Geo LOB Subject Matter Experts: Dat Tran (VA)
