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The Malta Independent | Thursday 24 February 2011
ICT Feature
Kurt Bonnici
Kurt Bonnici is Project Leader at MITA
Using ICT to manage government property assets As in other countries, the government of Malta owns and controls large holdings of land and built up properties. These properties represent a considerable asset to the government and are managed by the Government Property Department. During the last years, the department embarked on a roadmap to improve its operations, procedures and management. One of the core initiatives to achieve this transformation is to implement a holistic information system, which shall integrate improved processes with information technology. One of the projects aimed at improving the management of government owned property is the Land Estate Management Information System (LEMIS). Launched in January 2010, the project initiated with an intensive study which took stock of the current business processes, data and existing information systems. These findings were documented and presented with recommendations for improved processes and are now being mapped in a state of the art IT solution. LEMIS will also include a full acquisition management, a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework, together with document and work flow management. The first module of the project, Rent Management, is expected to be functional in the coming months whilst the project shall be fully implemented by 2012. In parallel, the Government Property Department is working on a project to digitise and scan the existing files. The perceived benefits from this project are: • Allows the Government Property Department to become more customer focussed, thus being able to provide improved services to its clients; • Efficiency gains in having a work flow business process, with scanned, digitised files, images and data available in real time, when and
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One of the projects aimed at improving the management of government owned property is the Land Estate Management Information System (LEMIS)
where required; • Improved transparency, accountability and control by having full
audit trails; • Holistic view of all the Government property, which will allow
The Malta Independent ICT Feature Roderick Spiteri Roderick Spiteri is Marketing and Communications Executive at MITA and editor of Malta Independent ICT feature
Carm Cachia
central Government to take informed decisions related to its property.
Which form shall I fill-in?
Chris Busuttil is a consultant on eGovernment with MITA
A form is actually the first thing that we look for when we get started to apply for any service. According to a recent study, there are around 600 commonly used forms in Government alone and citizens have to fill-in and submit these forms for services such as to apply for a scheme, to request a service, or to file tax returns, and so on. The main function of a form is that it organises the formalities of the task in a regular way. However, forms can come in different styles and formats and some are easier to understand than others. It is therefore comfortable when a form goes straight to the point and we’re able to follow a pattern and identify whether we need to attach any documentation with it. Paper based application forms have annoying aspects, such as repetitiveness. We usually have to attach copies of our ID card and have to fillin our name, ID card number, status and address details on almost each and every form, sometimes even for services within the same entity. MITA has been working with different ministries, authorities and departments on a common platform of electronic forms. eForms Platform, enabled by MITA but driven by the different departments, will be a scalable repository and will allow Ministries to deploy and publish services with the necessary requirements and safeguards in a just-in-time manner. Forms will all have the same style and pattern and will also include help in the form of tips as to what is required.
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how the local Section was created and of their upcoming workshop on managing successful technology projects. The proliferation of open source software is widely discussed and in today’s edition we look at the takeup of open source operating systems.
Introducing the British Computer Society The British Computer Society, nowadays more commonly known as the BCS, was formed in 1957 when the London Computer Group merged with a group of scientists to form the British Computer Society Ltd. In 1966 the BCS received the charitable status, while in 1982-83, the Duke of Kent became its president. An important milestone of the BCS was when they were incorporated by a Royal Charter to become a chartered institution. This brought about specific professional and ethical responsibilities to the society. This responsibility trickles down to its members, whereby they have to act within a professional code of conduct, and make sure that they keep up-todate with the advancement of information technology. The BCS is the only UK professional IT body with the ability to grant a “chartered status” to its professional members. With over 80,000 members worldwide, the BCS is distinguished to be the most influential IT body to enable the information society, by promoting change and wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology, science and its practice. Their vision is to be a world-class organisation for IT. To achieve this, BCS ensures that the IT profession has the skills and capabilities to meet the IT demands of a changing world. The BCS Malta Section The BCS Malta Section is one of the oldest overseas charters. An open forum was held on 9th November 1995 to discuss the formation of a BCS Section in Malta and this was attended
by over fifty persons, twelve of whom were BCS members. On 22 November 1995 an application was made to the BCSA membership director for recognition of the Malta Section and this was greeted with enthusiasm by the membership committee. On approval from BCS HQ, the Malta Section was officially set up on 1 June 1997. Today the BCS Malta Section has over 100 members and most of these members occupy top level positions in Government and private industry. The Malta Section is an extension of the BCS headquartered in UK and is one of the oldest international Sections. Other Sections are found in Belgium, Greece, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, Middle East, Pakistan, Rideau, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Upper Canada, and USA. Managing technology projects As all international information technology and management societies, the BCS and its Malta Section are well aware of the importance that technology projects have for organisations and society in general. Two critical questions remain. 1) Why are some projects perceived as failures even though they have met all the traditional standards of success namely, completed on time, within budget and met all technical specifications? 2) Why are some projects perceived to be successful even though they have failed to meet two important criteria that are traditionally associated with success - namely, not completed on time and not within budget? The main issue here is that the question regarding what constitutes project success is a complex and illusive
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With over 80,000 members world-wide, the BCS is distinguished to be the most influential IT body to enable the information society, by promoting change and wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology, science and its practice
one. To reduce this complexity it is imperative that a critical set of project success factors are identified so that a project success framework is developed. This is the main subject of an event organised by the BCS Malta section which will be held on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel in St Julian’s. The event will be conducted by Emanuel Camilleri who is currently a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Malta and author of the book “Project Success: Critical Factors and Behaviours” published by Gower. BCS Malta Section entices all those who are involved in projects to attend and discuss their experiences after the presentation. Those interested can book their attendance on www.bcs.org.mt or by email on secretary@bcs.org.mt
Penetration of Open Source Operating Systems Michel Bugeja
The main function of a form is that it organises the formalities of the task in a regular way
Once logged-in, the common details of the user will be automatically filled-in. Before it’s submitted, the eForm checks whether all the necessary information has been provided and whether we have filled in all the required sections. Our application will be available online together with all correspondence between us and the government. Every form will get a tracking number so that we can check on its progress and be able to view its history since we originally submitted it. Furthermore, eForms will take advantage of other components of eGovernment such as the framework for electronic identity and the new government payment gateway for a more holistic and efficient service. As more forms will be placed online, citizens and/or businesses we will be able to interact with Government in a faster and more comfortable manner than before.
application forms and how through a single platform, eForms, both citizens and businesses can enhance their interaction with the government. We will also look at the history of the British Computer Society which today can boast of having over 80,000 members worldwide. We will look at
A vision of becoming a world-class organisation for IT
Carm Cachia is Chairman of the BCS Malta Section
Chris Busuttil
One of the major assets of governments in most countries is the land and property it owns. In today’s Malta Independent ICT Feature we will look at how the Maltese government is using ICT to improve the management of this asset. We will also look at the future of government
Michel Bugeja is Enterprise Architect at MITA
The high penetration level of Open Source Operating Systems at server level was rarely a matter of debate. This is not a surprise as Linux and other open source operating systems are considered by the critical mass as tools for Techies and Gurus. As the internet became increasingly popular, the collaboration opportunities for Open Source Software, has driven open source software to a new dimension, focusing even more on quality and user experience. The licensing terms of a large number of Open Source Operating Systems promote a number of freedoms, including that of studying the source code. This makes Open Source Operating Systems strong components in the academic arena. More recently, the introduction of Linux distribution to target specific business areas are becoming even more popular such as Linux distributions targeting K-12 (Education). Notwithstanding the worldwide acknowledgement of the benefits of open source software, from a consumer perspective the take-up of Open Source Operating Systems was
always challenging, not necessarily due to the quality of the software per se. The introduction of Netbooks as consumer products has seen an increased adoption of Linux d u e t o
the advantageous pricing of open source based netbooks. Netbooks are more commonly used to access internet and basic office automation tools where the quality level of open source software is surprisingly high. The popularity of open source internet browser and open source office suites has in fact superseded the popularity of open source operating systems. The latest additions to consumer devices are smart phones and tablets. The penetration of open source operating systems within these devices is i n -
credi b l y h i g h , where the market value is seen very competitive with other proprietary ones. This is a perfect example that the quality of some open source operating systems are high, and when these are strongly marketed, consumers are more willing to adopt.