If You Can See It, We Can Build It
There’s a saying in project management that goes something like this: “If you can see it, we can build it. But if you can’t see it, we’re not going anywhere.” Never was this more evident than in the case of a project to replace a hunting and fishing license sales system for a large state agency.
1. What does the final solution look like?
2. Who will be affected by the new solution?
3. How will things be different once the solution has been implemented?
4. What value will the solution provide?
1. What the solution will look like: The new system will be an off-the-shelf software package that supports selling fishing and hunting licenses to the public through retail outlets, which will retain a portion of the fees for handling. The solution will record sales and run them through the agency’s financial system; it will then provide data from those sales to support the scientific investigation of wildlife and fishery populations and trends. The system will provide management reports and access to data for use in decision-making processes at the agency and business unit levels. The sellers and agency staff will receive training to ensure that the system integrates effectively with existing business processes. To avoid the need to build a customized system, those processes may require modification to integrate the capabilities of the software package with the agency’s business needs.
2. Who will be affected by the project: The new system will impact the retail sellers, the agency’s business office, finance and accounting office, and staff scientists who use the data for their studies. The sales system will also directly impact the public buying the licenses and the agency’s enforcement staff.
3. How things will be different once the solution has been implemented: The new system will be easy for the retail sellers to set up and use, and it will include self-instruction so that agency staff remains focused on their work, freed from the current deluge of questions posed by the media and the public. Web-based, the system will interface wirelessly with the agency’s infrastructure, allowing set-up and support functions to be carried out with ease. Relevant data will be available in near real-time and the agency’s financial position will be apparent on a daily basis, with timely access to decision-making tools. Public access to eligibility and game records will be provided online, increasing ease of use and reducing calls to the business office staff.
4. The value the solution will provide to the organization: The new solution will increase revenue flow, enhance access to information, reduce business office calls, and free up staff for other duties. It will create goodwill with retailers and the public, enhancing the agency’s reputation.