In the middle 1980s I was a partner in a computer company. Following computer consulting for the Tennessee House and Senate, I felt that more business might be available with city and county governments. I was wrong. Tennessee had its act together. The state had custom software it developed and offered it to local governments at a nominal cost. There was no business there for me.
In the past month (it is now July 2009), I read that the new US Czar of Energy (or some such person) let out a contract for 18 milion dollars for a web site. There are several things wrong with this:
1. Since when did a non cabinet-level entity have such power?
2. Why does the US Government not have two or three different web site templates which can be used for any or all departments? This would cut costs dramatically.
3. All web sites for government use would need to be informational and receive comments from surfers for help, complaints, etc. – That’s All!
4. I know that until now (this administration) there has never been an overall cabinet rank IT person (even if he is in security) – are there no SMEs (subject matter experts)in IT who can advise on IT policy? Even a simple thematic analysis of a dozen government web sites would provide you with 98% of web site requirements, and a non-IT analyst could write the specifications.
We are all taxpayers, and 18 million dollarsfor a web site is a little much, don’t you think?
Dr LGG
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