DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

GPG ICT SUMMITJune 14th 2012

Presented by: Lemmy Chappie

Contents

• Our Journey• Benefits realized • Successes to Date• The role of ICT in the GPG growth path• ICT strategic intent • Service delivery offerings • ICT Transformation• GPG ICT investments • Lessons learned

• Infrastructure • Applications • Right tasking

• ICT assessment • Responses to current challenges• Internet penetration in Africa • Broadband rollout• ICT Strategy recommendations

Our Journey

Feasibility assessment – Understanding

our core business•In 1998 it was clear that a disproportionate expenditure ratio of line vs. support functions in the public sector.

•A functional analysis, completed in 1999 found that:

– resources were duplicated and not optimised.

– there were skills shortages in key areas and scarce skills were not well distributed across departments.

– the focus on support functions was distracting efforts away from frontline delivery, i.e. Core. Government Services.

– over-spending by the big departments and continual qualified audit reports by the Auditor General.

Our Journey

GSSC Establishment

•The GSSC was promulgated as the 12th department in November 2001; the mandate of GSSC was to provide back-office support to GPG departments.

•By leveraging technology, GSSC was to contribute to improved customer experiences, optimise efficiency, improve quality and service delivery.

•The GSSC pooled resources that resulted in an overall reduction of people and posts from 3100 people to only 1800 - migrate to the Shared Services Centre, and provide the following functions:

– Human Resource Services;

– Finance Services;

– Procurement Services;

– Internal Audit; and

– Technology Support Services.

Our Journey – Common Services via GSSC

Centralized Common Support Services via a “Shared Services”

Benefits realized

• Economies of scale.

• Reduction of duplication on transversal apps.

• Single Domain.

• Automation of processes.

• Rationalization of resources (ICT skills).

• Single network.

• Standardization.

• Increased efficiencies.

Successes to dateSince inception the GSSC has had varying successes:

•Deployed and maintained the ICT infrastructure including the GPG network

•Implementation of SAP as a general Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

system – integrating it with BAS for National Treasury reporting and payment

purposes.

•Standardised a single process for procurement using SAP (Procure-to-Pay ),

across the GPG.

• Streamlined and automated some Human Resource functions; including the

rollout of ESS and E-Recruitment.

•Progress in rollout of e-government services; including Gauteng-on line (portal

an single number for GPG) and GoL Schools project.

The role of ICT in the GPG growth path

•Removing obstacles and bottlenecks that impede the efficient operation of a networked and connected economy;

•Encouraging innovation, research and development and the knowledge economy;

•Increasing capacity and capabilities which in turn increases opportunities for increased income;

•Strengthening localized sectors of production and economic development to ensure increased competitiveness and productivity;

•Ensuring optimal resource reallocation and sustainable resource usage.

ICT Strategic Intent

ICT Strategy

Service Delivery

Connected Government

ICT Skills capacity building

A modern, reliable and secured infrastructure

Optimised utilisation of ICT Applications

Innovative, integrated and interoperable systems

Bridging the digital divide

Strategic partnerships

ICT Strategy Themes

ICT Strategic Objectives

Service delivery offerings

C I T I Z E N S

I D E N T I T Y

A C C E S S

MA N A G E M E N T

GPG

APPLICATIONS

INFRASTRUCTURE

E-SERVICES

E N T E R P R I S E

C O N T E N T

M A N A G E M E N T

ICT Transformation

eGovernmenteGovernment Service Delivery Service Delivery

Citizen Using Self - Service

Current Government Service DeliveryCurrent Government Service Delivery

Transaction Processor/ GatekeeperCitizen Waiting in LineCounty Worker

IT System

IT SystemCounty WorkerProblem Solver

Service Delivery

Citizen Using Self - Service

Current Government Service DeliveryCurrent Government Service Delivery

Transaction Processor/ GatekeeperCitizen Waiting in LineGovernment Worker

IT System

IT SystemIT SystemGovernment Worker

Problem SolverProblem Solver

Transformation

ICT Transformation

The Strategy: Data Centre and Disaster Recovery Consolidation – As Is

GOVNET

INTERNET

TELKOM VPN

SITA Mainframe

Department XDepartment Y

Department Z

D

GDF SSD

D

As is ICT State

Data Centre

Users

Server Room

GPG DR

OFFLINE

Current Situation:

Multiple Data Centres / Server Rooms

Replicated Skills Inefficient use of ResourcesWasted CapacityHigh operational Costs

No Disaster Recovery Centre Specialised ICT Skills

Shortage

ICT Transformation

The Strategy: Data Centre and Disaster Recovery Consolidation – As Is

Desired ICT State

Internet

GPG ICT Services Cloud

GPG USER COMMUNITY

Department ADepartment B

Department C

High Availability GPG DAta Centre

Desired State:Consolidate all departmental Data Centres and Server Rooms into a highly available provincial data centre and disaster recovery environment.

Reorganised Skill PlacementMaximum resource efficiencyScalable capacityCost efficiency

Provincial DC and DRHigh availability environment

Faster Greener Cheaper

GPG ICT Investments

• People

– Recruited and re-skilled specialised resources to support transversal services.

– Collaborated with the GCRA and ICT SETA to build reserve support resources.

– Continuous training in line with cutting edge technologies deployed.

• Technology

– Implemented an ERP application for automation of GPG processes.

– Implemented Gauteng Online Schools Programme (GoL).

– Centralised e-mail, domain services management.

– Created a single VPNS network with a single gateway to the outside.

– Implemented a Cyber Security Operational Centre (GSOC) securing all of GPG.

– Implemented a Network Operations Centre (NOC) to proactively monitor our

infrastructure services.

– Implemented a document management system.

GPG ICT investments

• Process re-engineering– Automated common processes such as HR, Procurement Finance, Contract

management etc. to improve efficiencies:

• Procure to Pay

• ESS

• Finance

• Asset management

– Implemented a call centre to support GPG services.

– Implemented the Gauteng Online portal (Single gateway into GPG).

– Implemented an invoice management system for supplier convenience.

– The GPG built a Design and Validation Centre as the 1st phase of G-link to simulate the envisaged network.

Lessons learned (Infrastructure)

• In 2010 an assessment was conducted on our server infrastructure and the

results were:-

– Only 20% of the capacity of the servers was being utilised.

– Power consumption was high consequently contributing to gas emissions.

– Resources required to support infrastructure were costly.

• GPG needs to continue innovating on infrastructure services.

– Reduce costs by leveraging on the latest technologies such as

virtualisation.

– Rationalise and consolidate infrastructure.

– Optimise our Network efficiencies and management.

– Create a single DRP for GPG.

– Significantly contributing to achieving a “Green” ICT environment.

– Increase e-services for GPG citizens and all visitors.

Lessons learned (Applications)

• Rationalise, consolidate and innovate

– Implement Self services for citizens through all channels available.

– Continue to innovate on employee services to increase efficiencies.

– Utilise Social Networks to bring government closer to the people.

– Integrate our applications to the ERP suite to get better business.

intelligence that helps government take informed decisions.

– Implement relevant mobile applications to take advantage of the mobile

device penetration.

– Take advantage of Software as a Service concept to increase citizen

convenience.

Lessons learned Right – Tasking

• Government has always had challenges in recruiting and retaining specialised

ICT resources.

• This led to GPG carrying out a study to determine what could be right tasked

• Areas such as Information Security, WAN skills, etc. were identified as

candidates for out-tasking.

• Other areas where we felt we would rather out-task because of the critical nature

of the services.

• The area of Disaster Recovery and BCP will be considered to be out-tasked.

ICT assessment

• Matured data centre for transversal services.

• Established Wide Area Network (WAN).

• Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Network Operations Centre (NOC).

• ICT infrastructure is aged (end of life).

• External variables that affect our ICT environment (municipal services).

• Specialised ICT professionals in various disciplines.

• Capacity challenges in specialist / scarce skills area’s.  

• Staff attraction and retention is a challenge.

ICT assessment• Established Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Enterprise Content

Management (ECM) tools.

• Ability to develop products using various development tools is strong.

• Application suites available may be underutilised.

• Financial pressures relating to GPG ICT environment.

 • An alternate approach is required to reduce GPG ICT costs. These may include:

 – Licence operating models. – Leasing hardware– Right tasking certain services. – Introduction and the expansion of strategic partnerships. – Introducing consumption based computing for services.

 

Responses to current challenges • A number of focus area’s have been identified.

• Practical approach.

• Improving on the ICT service offerings.

• Maximise the investment in ICT.

• High cost of ownership.

Solutions

 • Consider solutions to improve the state of the current transversal data centre:

 – Infrastructure as a service for the provincial ICT requirements.  – The use of common or shared infrastructure.

 

Responses to current challenges

• Implement an Open Source (OS) strategy.

• Expand e-services across GPG.

• Implement a human capital strategy that meets the GPG ICT requirements.

 • Improve citizen access to government services by introducing broadband

services.

• Implement Unified Communications across the province.  

• Introduce proactive system and business application performance monitoring.

 

Internet penetration in Africa (www.internetworldstats.com)

Broadband rollout in Gauteng

Objectives• Digital inclusion

Easily accessible broadband services for all citizens and businesses.

• Social inclusionUniversal broadband access will enable new responses to socio- economic challenges.

• Enhance service delivery Provide more efficient and effective government and business services.

• Facilitate economic development Stimulate growth through job creation and participation of SMME’s.

Broadband rollout

G-Link targets realizing these objectives in 3 steps:

•Provide Basic Broadband Connectivity to 95% of Gauteng.

•Enrich the speed of connectivity to include rich media.

•Provide a “last inch” or connectivity solution to all citizens.

Phased delivery will minimize time for citizens to “feel the difference”:

•Basic Broadband: (1-4 Mbs) over first 3 years.

•Rich Media Broadband: (5 Mbs+) over a five year period.

ICT Strategy recommendations

• Increasing SMMEs business sophistication through ICT usage.

• Increasing economic communications and transactions capacity.

• through the manufacturing and services sectors.

• Increasing government responsiveness through electronic content and

• administrative processes.

• E-Governance content, services and delivery channels.

• Connected households and economic transition.

• ICT Sector Development:

– ICT software and services.

– Green ICT.

– Digital broadcasting.

– Collaboration (Triple helix) for research and development.

Thank you!

CONCLUSION