When it comes to state technology projects, the Star Tribune says we "need what other states already have." ("Fixing IT system should be at the top of Minnesota's to-do list," editorial, Jan. 27.) But we don't need to become like other states, because we already are! Failing technology projects are the norm in most states, not the exception.
In recent years, California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nebraska, Florida and Pennsylvania, among many others, have all reported major failures. And failure is not unique to governments. A recent McKinsey report says half of all IT projects in all sectors with budgets of more than $15 million were 45 percent over budget, 7 percent behind schedule and delivering 56 percent less functionality than predicted. We don't want to be like them. Furthermore, while fixing what's wrong with MNLARS (the state's Licensing and Registration System) is necessary, it won't solve the underlying problems. Nor will it unleash the real potential of technology to help us deliver the government we want. To get there, we need six things.
First, we need to be passionate about the possibilities. Too much of government is operating using technology that is 10, 20 or 30 years old, while most of us live and work in a world where our apps are updated every week. We should not have to take a time machine back to the 20th century every time we want to access a government service. Rather, imagine that we are able to:
• Access every government service through a single app on any device, having securely confirmed our identity only once.
• Never have to stand in line or wait online — having all services always on, 24/7/365.
• Renew our driver's, fishing, hunting and boating licenses without leaving home, even taking our own picture.
• Change our name, address, contact and other information by entering the updated information only one time, in one place.
• Have government fill out our taxes (they have all of the needed info already) so that all we do is make corrections and hit "submit."