Resource Sharing in the State of Alabama

Resource Sharing in the State of Alabama

In the state of Alabama, development is an issue of great concern, as bespoken by the great economic strides made in the state over the past number of years. In order to maintain a state of sustainable development, there has been a great need to maintain the balance between the resources needs in different departments. Undoubtedly, every single department and agency within the state, and in the entire nation alike requires money to run. However, there are some states that require more than others to function correctly. While all of the departments are equally important for the economy, it just makes sense for some of the departments to be more endowed with resources than others.

One such case is that of the Department of Information Technology and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These are two of the most important departments that enable successful economic development as well as social advancement in the State of Alabama. However, the resource allocation between the two departments is always not equal, and sometimes, it is nothing close to befitting. In such situations, it is worth carrying out an objective analysis of which of the two needs more attention than the other for the better of the state.

As the Director of the Office of Information Technology in the State of Alabama, the proposition put forward is to increase the resources allocated to this department over the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Department of Information Technology is a very delicate portfolio that requires constant monitoring and effective control over the affairs of the state. The Department of Information Technology has the mandate to protect all other departments and agencies in the state, which includes the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Department of Information Technology, basically, acts as an umbrella over all the other functions of the state organs (Houser & Johnson, 2008).

In this world and times when almost all government activities are run from a digital platform, there is no doubt that the Department of Information Technology is a critical portfolio that demands a lot of attention. Most of the resources and infrastructure required to run the Department of Information Technology are non-human, meaning that they require not only a high capital investment to install, but they also require periodic maintenance, replacement, and repairs. There is also the need for human companions to continuously monitor the functioning of the computers as an added reinforcement.

The Department of Information Technology operates in an environment where there are constant threat and attempts of hacking by malicious people. As a result, there is actual and persistent need to have in place some very sophisticated systems to ensure that the there is no failure at the Department of Information Technology. A failure on the side of IT can be so detrimental that it could easily bring down the whole state in a matter of hours if not quicker. For example, should the systems fail, the transport system would be greatly stalled since traffic lights, as well as other systems that are important in this industry would fail. In addition, it is the Department of Information Technology that facilitates quick and efficient means of communication among the different departments and agencies of the state. A slight failure would mean total or insecure communication.

While the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is an important section of the state governance, effects on failure on its side, which should not happen, might be a little lesser harmful than those on the side of IT. In today’s economic world, little crime is associated with conservation efforts as compared to IT. There is less likelihood of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources suffering serious attacks, at least physically, but there are chances of a network attack on the department. Therefore, one of the very basics of ensuring that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources functions efficiently is having a strong IT infrastructure.

Besides, the advancement of technology has now enabled the maintenance of important natural resources as well as controlling and monitoring of conservation efforts from a central command through IT. It goes without saying, therefore, that there is an actual need to have more resources under the Department of Information Technology (O’Neil & Pierson, 1996).

Additionally, the Department of Information Technology is tasked with ensuring that updated and pertinent government information is available to all resident at all times. Without information, even the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may not be able to effectively carry out some of its roles. The IT Department maintains all the web platforms owned by the state government, as well as its departments which includes the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Potter, 2002). Since information is power, it is important to ensure that the state is well furnished with information that would make its operations smooth, including proper conservation of natural resources.

The Department of Information Technology also interacts with the Human Resource Department to ensure that all employees of the state are well maintained, in terms of their hiring, training, remuneration, and firing or retiring. Without proper management of employees, even the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources cannot run, and this would stall all the operations of the state. It is, therefore, very important to ensure the IT Department is well funded to ensure that it is in good condition to be able to support the enormous work of ensuring all the people who are employed are well looked after.

In addition, and probably most important, the Department of Information Technology is the backbone of revenue collection in the state. Without a proper IT Department, the state would basically be unable to collect adequate revenue to finance most of its other departments such as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This means that the state would lose the very finances it needs to keep its operations running. This includes e-government services which are important to people such as traders who need permits to trade, drivers who need to renew their permits or access other government services (Potter, 2002).

Basically, the Department of Information Technology is more like the backbone of the economy of the State of Alabama. The more powerful and financed the Department of Information Technology is, the stronger other departments and agencies of the government are. In many ways, the IT Department can be described as the mother of all other departments, under whose wings those departments operate. Securing all other departments would require heavy investment in the Information Technology Department of the State Government of Alabama. A strong IT Department would help create a conducive environment of safety and effectiveness, necessary for the general improvement of the state economy.

References

• Houser, S. H., & Johnson, L. A. (2008). Perceptions regarding electronic health record implementation among health information management professionals in Alabama: a statewide survey and analysis. Perspectives in Health Information Management/AHIMA, American Health Information Management Association, 5.
• Mount, R. H., HTTP., & QEMK–NetLibrary. (1975). The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama.
• O’Neil, P. E., & Pierson, J. M. (1996). Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile basin. Oxmoor House.
• Potter, A. (2002). Accessibility of Alabama government web sites. Journal of Government Information, 29(5), 303-317.