For far too long government has relied on systems integrators (you know who you are out there) to develop technology process solutions based on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products. At first glance, this may seem like a cost effective way to develop systems for government to operate effectively.
But that's not the case at all. The truth is that COTS systems are highly cumbersome to install and manage, and they offer zero flexibility to deal with new and emerging needs. And, here's a little trade secret: systems integrators bill the government by the hour. So, when the requirements change, an integrator is more than happy to bill two years of time to a government agency to re-configure a COTS system.
The time has come for a totally different approach. There is a new sheriff in town called Business Process Management (BPM), which is creating what we call an "effectiveness revolution." This new sheriff is armed with the ability to be easily configured and managed, and can scale up or down based on needs and requirements. Most importantly, BPM is simply a more cost effective approach to government IT solutions.
And, the new sheriff is on a mission to protect government from overspending and inefficiencies ñ inherent problems with COTS. Isn't that what a good sheriff should do? Provide protection and make our lives better. We think so ñ what's your take?
