Oddbean new post about login | logout Crikey. Wonder what their 'success metrics' looked like. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/498118/it-upgrade-costs-rotorua-council-about-14-point-9m-more-than-originally-budgeted This seems like part of the same epidemic that we're seeing everywhere else. Gov't bureaucrats buying into the 'off-the-shelf' myth. We need better people who know stuff as the customers. Consultants are seldom without vested interests.
@d72d5211 "configuration costs". Ha ha ha ha ha.
@d72d5211 I have experience of one council which essentially operated as a fiefdom. The software architect had a cosy relationship with the CEO. He was busy with the green fields development of a building consent system that essentially would replicate an off the shelf system that other councils were using because he wanted to do it better and, because you know, "software development is cheap".
@d72d5211 do any governments maintain an internal pool of coding talent that then build/maintain applications for different departments? It’s not rocket science and it would be a fun job working on needed infrastructure versus silly startups
@d72d5211 Sometimes it seems to come down to a happiness to spend 10x in capitalised cost during implementation, heaps of which goes to consulting firms, on something that might last 5 years before replacement. Few businesses seem to think about doing things themselves and considering it cost of operation by employing people to do it. Then even after the initial capital outlay they still dont have the personnel so keep going back to the consultants at exorbitant prices time after time.
I'm starting to hatch a plan where a group of tech savvy *#LibreSoftware* adherents stage an intervention at #LGNZ (the Local Gov't Agency) & require all council procurement staff to do a course on *how the digital world/business really workds* and then they have to reapply for their roles before they can waste another cent of taxpayer $. Because the current crop give absolutely no indication of being competent.