As a Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the public sector, balancing the mission-critical responsibilities of strategic planning, policy development, and department leadership with the day-to-day operational challenges can be daunting. From putting out daily fires to grappling with staffing shortages, funding constraints, and complex union and political dynamics, finding time to keep up with technology trends is often a formidable task. In my new role observing CIOs from a vendor’s perspective, I encountered a novel approach that proved to be very interesting: dedicated “office hours” for vendor consultations, allowing for only 30 minutes per meeting and limiting the total number of meetings per week to only a few.
The Overwhelmed Government CIO
Government CIOs find themselves constantly dealing with pressing issues such as critical system outages, looming project deadlines, and escalating cybersecurity threats. This non-stop pressure can often sideline the critical task of technology scouting, potentially causing missed opportunities that could enhance operational efficiency and improve service delivery. And the ability to delegate this responsibility to direct reports is almost impossible as they are faced with the same day-to-day obstacles.
Innovative Approach: Vendor Office Hours
Implementing scheduled office hours for engaging with technology vendors can improve how CIOs interact with potential service providers. This strategy allocates a fixed, manageable time each week solely for these interactions, focusing not on sales but on understanding emerging technologies and their integration into government operations.
Selecting the Right Vendors
The effectiveness of vendor office hours depends significantly on identifying vendors who focus on education rather than sales. CIOs should aim to learn about technologies that not only meet current needs but can also be seamlessly integrated to enhance existing systems. This ensures that every session is productive and directly beneficial to government operations. Vendors who use this time inappropriately can be excluded from future meetings.
Honesty in Vendor Communications
Frequently, CIOs find themselves in meetings with vendors due to political pressures rather than genuine interest or need. These encounters, often initiated at the behest of politicians with ties to lobbyist groups, can constrain open dialogue, as CIOs navigate the delicate balance of maintaining political relationships. Implementing structured 30-minute “office hour” sessions, however, grants CIOs the freedom to communicate candidly about their actual interest, available funding, and current priorities. In my new role operating from the vendor side, this transparency can be invaluable. It enables vendors to align their offerings more effectively with the real needs and capacities of the government, ensuring that both parties can prioritize efforts where they are most likely to yield fruitful collaborations.
Benefits of Structured Tech Exploration
Institutionalizing vendor office hours allows CIOs to systematically update their technological knowledge and align with the latest industry trends without overwhelming their schedule. This dedicated time fosters a deeper understanding of potential technological solutions, enabling more informed decisions that can lead to significant improvements in departmental efficiencies.
Conclusion
For government CIOs tasked with steering their organizations through myriad challenges, keeping pace with technological advancements is crucial yet challenging. However, by adopting innovative strategies like vendor office hours, CIOs can maintain their edge in technological innovation and manage their responsibilities more effectively. This proactive approach does not just mitigate the risk of falling behind but also equips CIOs with the necessary knowledge to drive meaningful advancements within their organizations, ultimately enhancing their service to the public.
Scott Mastellon, former Suffolk County (NY) CIO and current Managing Director of Public Sector at SVAM International Inc., is a distinguished technology leader with over two decades in the experience in government. Renowned for driving digital transformation and operational efficiency in the public sector, his strategic leadership was crucial during Suffolk County’s critical moments, notably amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Leveraging his rich experience as a government CIO, Scott now brings innovative technology solutions to public sector organizations at SVAM, focusing on cybersecurity, RPA and AI, and data modernization.
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