• Application:

—Step 1: Identify the Opportunities and Options

—Step 2: Screen the Options

• Set-up: Break out groups of 5 to 7 participants

• Resources: Your collective knowledge and experience, binder materials (building the business case, selected technology section, supplementary materials.

• Timeframe: 45 minutes

—30 minutes (breakout groups)

—15 minutes (full session)

Exercise Directions

1. Choose a Child Welfare functional area and one of the emerging technologies discussed

2. List 3 to 5 organization objectives for the selected area

§ Organization objectives typically begin with intentions to reduce, increase, shorten, lengthen, improve, etc. (e.g. reduce time spent filing papers)

3. List 3 to 5 ways that the emerging technology will benefit the functional area

4. Create a problem statement addressing the selected functional area

5. Identify options for using the emerging technologies

6. Select the most important key performance factors

7. List the top 3-5 key stakeholders

Exercise example:

1. A functional area and emerging technology selection: Intake Management and Mobile and Wireless

2. Organizational Objective: Reduce the backlog of child abuse investigations to meet state mandated goals (90% of investigations closed within 30 calendar days of being initiated, all investigations closed within 45 days)

3. Benefit: Use mobile and wireless devices to provide the investigator the ability to work in the field during the course of an investigation (e.g. not have to travel to the office to look up or file information, or to coordinate with others on the case (e.g., courts).

4. Problem Statement: In support of our strategic goals to reduce backlog of child abuse investigation to state mandated goals we will implement the use of mobile and wireless devices to provide the investigator the ability to work in the field during the course of investigation.

5. Viable Options: PDAs, PC Tablets, Pocket PCs

6. Key Performance Factors: indicates your goal, outcomes, and possible measurements. Was backlog reduced using mobile devices? Can include long-term and short-term factors.

1. Speed
2. Productivity
3. Redundancy

7. Key business and technical stakeholders:

Investigators, program managers, IT managers, caseworkers, state administration

Key Performance Factors

(Reference: OMB Exhibit 300 Preparation Guide)

Performance Factor	Description
Simplicity	Will operations be simplified or made more complex?
Speed	Will you be able to respond more quickly to requests?
Redundancy	Will the investment reduce redundant tasks?
Accuracy	Does the investment improve error rates or accuracy of information?
Reliability	Will the investment increase the reliability of the processes?
Adaptability	Is the investment adapting to recognized standards?
Technology	Will the investment provide improvements in technology and performance?
Employee Morale	Will the investment improve the working environment?
Productivity	Will capacity increase and can more be done with less?
Quality	Will a better product or service be produced?
Flexibility	Will the staff be able to respond to a greater number and variety of requests?
Security	Will security and the ability to protect information increase?
Consistency	Will the quality of the service or product become more consistent?
Customer Satisfaction	Will the investment provide increased service levels to customers?