2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Ministry of Human Resources

Appendix B: Information Resource Management Plan (IRMP)

Current IM/IT Environment

The ministry’s legacy business applications, which have not been substantially upgraded since the 1980s, are based on 1970s technology. The applications are inflexible, increasingly fragile, and difficult to adapt to legislative changes. A large proportion of the applications use mainframe technology with numerous external information system interfaces (i.e., other ministries, provinces, health insurance organisations and the federal government).

The business applications, originally designed to address eligibility for, and payment of income assistance, are difficult to maintain. The ministry inherited a myriad of ancillary systems with varying application and technology architectures. Over the years numerous custom interfaces have been built to try to integrate data and information. The result of the integration effort is an amalgamation of applications that are inter-dependent, inflexible, and do not adequately support the ministry’s shift to employment. A modernized technology environment will position the ministry for the future and support the implementation of its service plan deliverables.

A flexible, scalable, and maintainable technical environment will support ministry clients, service providers, and programs. The need for technology change has been reinforced by the implementation of BC Employment and Assistance, which involved establishing labour-intensive manual workarounds and patches.

Modernising and revitalising MHR’s legacy technology and business applications will improve overall service delivery and expand operational efficiencies.

Target IM/IT Environment

BC is the most “connected” province in Canada. Over 60% of residents have access to the Internet; the numbers are growing, and the Premier has committed to seeing the province become “a world leader in e-government.”

The opportunity exists for the ministry to move forward with an Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) initiative to upgrade systems and business applications, improve service, and enhance overall efficiency.

The ESD initiative will support the development of ministry services that are: citizen-centred, timely, integrated, flexible, and customised to the individual’s needs, while protecting the privacy of personal information.

This includes enabling multi-channel, convenient, and consistent access to services, information, and applications.

To support the transformation of the ministry’s legacy technology and business applications, and provide a foundation for improved service delivery and streamlined business processes, the ministry is proceeding with the first phase of an ESD initiative.

The overall ESD initiative aligns with the objectives of the BC Government as a whole.

It employs a multiphase approach involving planning, procurement, implementation, and post-implementation support.

The objective of the current ESD phase (Phase I: Planning and Approvals) is to:

• Determine the enterprise-wide solution requirements;
• Develop strategies for procurement and implementation of ESD solutions, in alignment with the objectives of the BC Government;
• Identify solutions that can be implemented quickly; and
• Develop a business case and obtain funding and approvals required to proceed.

Work on legacy business applications, and implementation of the ministry service plan, will be directed to non-discretionary maintenance, legislative enhancements, or solutions that will provide immediate benefit and enable the ministry to move towards its ESD vision.

ESD work will be performed within the context of current Enterprise Architecture (EA) work, other MHR projects, and BC Government technology strategies, initiatives and standards. Commonalities with other ministries, and opportunities to leverage business processes and/or technology solutions will be pursued.