Where's the Data? GIS Helps Answer Enterprise Questions, Says NASCIO

Photo: Stephen Fletcher, Utah CIO and co-chair of NASCIO's Enterprise Architecture Committee.

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) today announced the release of its new issue brief, Where's the Data? Show Me -- Maximizing the Investment in State Geospatial Resources.

This issue brief is part of NASCIO's series on Enterprise Governance and deals with the growing demand for GIS in every aspect of government decision making. GIS, or geo-spatial resources, involves more than technology. It is the organization, management and delivery processes associated with managing geo-spatial resources. GIS ranked as one of the top 10 technologies by state CIOs at the NASCIO 2007 Annual Conference.

"GIS is continuing to grow in its use in business decision making," said Utah CIO Stephen Fletcher, co-chair of NASCIO's Enterprise Architecture Committee. "GIS is really a portfolio of capabilities that extends across the enterprise. The investment in this portfolio is growing and we need to be sure we are managing this investment as well as incorporating GIS process and knowledge assets within enterprise architecture, information architecture, and program management. We are including this issue brief within our series on Enterprise Governance because this resource has become so significant for state government. State GIS Coordinators have become a valued advisor across the enterprise. We offer this issue brief as way of building awareness of potential of GIS within the state government enterprise and the NASCIO community; exploring and communicating the potential for further leveraging not only GIS technology, but the GIS organization; and the role of the state CIO in delivery of a successful state GIS program that is coordinated and orchestrated to facilitate cross line of business collaboration and investment."

GIS becomes relevant to every state agency and initiative. With proper governance, appropriate partnering, and investment, this resource can assist state government decision makers in making better, more informed decisions. Data and information that is enhanced with a location perspective often brings new insight and understanding. Add to that the layering of multiple dimensions and intersections, and cross line of business collaboration reaches a whole new level that can demonstrate immense value to state government for not only enterprise agility and rapid response but also long term strategy and multi-jurisdiction collaboration.