[Comm-Council] E-Government Update - Introduction to new Updates

[SHERWOOD Jodi L * DAS DO]

July 25, 2003

To:  Comm-Council (Communication professionals across state government)

From:  Jodi Sherwood, Assistant Communication Manager - Department of
Administrative Services
__________________________________________________________


The E-Government program continues to move forward on efforts to strengthen
the technology infrastructure for statewide use.  Today agencies can use
these systems to conduct electronic financial transactions and, for those
few agencies that do not have a web presence; they can now develop one
through the content management system.  Whether your agency is large or
small, there are ways you'll use this system to increase communication
internally and externally and improve business processes. 

This message begins a series of e-government updates that we'll send to
communication staff across state government.   Every other week we'll update
you on our progress, details, and events surrounding this program.  

The E-Government program began in April 2001 when the E-Board granted
funding to the Department of Administrative Services IRMD E-Government
program.  Initial funds were used to establish the program and develop a
technology infrastructure that would benefit all state agencies.  Beginning
with the 2003/05 biennium this is part of your agency assessment.  

This new infrastructure will support many e-government initiatives,
including the new State Intranet.  Called "GovNet", this component will
enhance communication across state government.  Every state employee (over
35,000) will be able to sign onto this system and receive information from
the Governor's Office, DAS, or across agencies that you interact with.
Cross agency teams will have the ability to collaborate and communicate in
real time through the use of team sites.  In addition, specific information
can be targeted to individuals depending on their role or even what area of
the state they work.  States across the nation are using statewide intranets
today, along with many corporate businesses, to enhance communication and
knowledge sharing saving time and resources.  We'll share more information
on GovNet, including best practices and lessons learned from other states,
as we begin these series of updates. 

The E-government program also provides a central platform for providing the
ability to process on-line credit card transactions, called SecurePay. One
platform, supporting all of state government, helps citizens as they do not
have to learn a new process each time they visit an agency web site.   They
also benefit in costs savings as investments are made in one platform
instead of many different agency systems. 

SecurePay has performed hundreds of thousands of transactions since going
into production.  Six agencies are using it today with more agencies
scheduled to launch applications in the coming months.  Today citizens can
renew their business licenses, buy the popular "Blue book", or renew their
boat registrations.  All of these transactions are available on-line 24
hours a day at a time that is convenient to the citizen.

Additional tools, available in the fall 2003, will assist agencies in
reconciling financial transactions made on the Internet with internal
financial management systems.  Improved fraud controls will be in-place and
security of the transactions will be at their highest levels. 

These tools provide an opportunity to focus on the enterprise - meaning
statewide - that we have not been able to pursue in the past.  With the
ability to provide a technology platform that services the enterprise as a
whole, we will improve communication, services and business practices. 

The next message will focus on the early adopter process.  A few agencies
are working with us as early adopters to help vet the systems we are
building.  We'll share more information on who is trying out these system,
how it's working, what we've learned, including our next steps. 

Please let me know if this message is helpful to you, what other focuses
you'd like to see as we prepare more communication, and at anytime you have
questions regarding this program, please contact me. 

Thank you, 


Jodi Sherwood
Assistant Communications Manager
Department of Administrative Services

503-378-3118
jodi.l.sherwood at state.or.us

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