The Badger Herald: News: Problems riddle state IT projects

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Problems riddle state IT projects

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By Pedro Oliveira Jr.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 12:00 a.m.

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Information Technology projects across Wisconsin are producing high-cost delays because of organization and oversight problems, according to a report Tuesday by a nonpartisan legislative agency.

The Legislative Audit Bureau classified 22 of 186 projects as "high risk," or costing more than $1 million. The expected cost of these projects — $186 million total — represents 92.7 percent of all ongoing projects.

Over the past four years, several state agencies — including the University of Wisconsin System — have slashed multi-million dollar projects. Others have experienced trouble completing projects within budget and on schedule, the report said.

"The total lack of project management has created an environment in which poor planning, unacceptable cost overruns and never-ending projects have become commonplace," state Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls, said in a statement.

Over the past 15 years, the report said Wisconsin has considerably increased its use of technology to collect, store, process and report information related to state programs and services.

"We must change how we contract for IT projects, and this audit will be the catalyst for that change," added Jeskewitz, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

Currently, state agencies use IT systems to establish eligibility for various public benefit programs, register motor vehicles, issue licenses to drivers, collect fees and payments, and manage administrative functions such as accounting and budgeting for state operations.

"This audit report highlights the need to establish procedures and standards for government IT projects because the taxpayers can't afford any more failures," Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said in a statement.

Huebsch, who recently created a task force to identify long-term solutions for the IT blunders, said the failed projects have cost taxpayers more than $170 million.

The UW System has implemented several IT projects over the past nine years, including five core systems supporting business processes.

In 2006, the Appointment Payroll and Benefits System project was scrapped after spending more than $26 million. It was intended to consolidate payroll, appointment and other human resources functions into a single system for the entire UW System, but was terminated due to costs and delays.

David Giroux, UW System spokesperson, said the Board of Regents will use Audit Bureau recommendations and a similar report by the UW Office of Operations to determine how the system will prepare and pursue future IT projects.

State Sen. Jim Sullivan, D-Wauwatosa, said it is important the IT projects are being re-evaluated and improved as needed.

"Mid-course corrections that agency leaders have begun must improve efficiencies and save state taxpayer's dollars," Sullivan said in a statement.

A public hearing on the Legislative Audit Bureau report will be held May 2 by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

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