The pandemic could provide opportunities to consolidate IT

Public-sector IT leaders have been talking about “breaking down silos” for years, but often with little success, one official said. But the pandemic could provide an opportunity to advance the agenda of consolidated IT and shared services.

“We’re in this now,” the official said. “How do we get out together?”

Another official suggested that maybe it’s time to fundamentally change how government operates.

“We’ve always been talking about innovation, but maybe it’s time to focus more on facilitation,” the official said. “We quite literally won’t be able to afford working in silos any longer.”

One city agency CIO said breaking down silos requires leaders to focus on the culture that surrounds technology departments, not just the technology itself.

“How does culture impact technology? How does technology impact culture?” the CIO said. “That’s what we need to focus on.”