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19 <br /> In order to address this shift, OCIT needs to continue to evolve its expertise for <br /> project management, including requirements analysis, contract evaluation, and <br /> vendor management. <br /> Some remaining enhancement and small-scale development will persist. These <br /> enhancement activities should focus on current technologies, such as the <br /> MicroSoft .net environment, java and Python. <br /> Orange County needs to address application development that is performed by <br /> departments outside of IT. The current lack of formal development <br /> methodology creates a significant exposure for the County. This ad hoc <br /> approach to software development produces application code that is difficult to <br /> maintain and troubleshoot by persons other than the original developer. Should <br /> that singular resource become unavailable, departmental processes could be <br /> adversely affected, recovery time lengthy and cost of recovery significant. <br /> Orange County must ensure that all development activities are conducted within <br /> a framework of proven formal software development methodologies, including <br /> full design documentation, regression testing, code review, release <br /> management and a full life cycle support plan. With such a development <br /> context in place, Orange County can ensure these business critical applications <br /> are supportable beyond the availability of a single resource. <br /> Business Analysis <br /> Because of the recommended emphasis on implementing COTS applications, <br /> there is a need for business analysis within OCIT. This business analysis <br /> requires the adoption of new skillsets, which will become the underlying <br /> methodology by which new technologies are researched and deployed. <br /> Business Analysis methodologies should be formally established for major <br /> system implementations and large-scale enhancement requests. Business <br /> consultation skills should be developed within the applications team so that <br /> departments' business practices can be properly aligned with available and <br /> potential technology solutions. <br /> Formal partnerships should be developed between IT, purchasing and legal <br /> departments, to ensure vendor performance is measurable and contractually <br /> enforceable. <br /> CUSTOMER/CONSTITUENT SERVICES <br /> Website Redevelopment <br /> There is a strong need to redevelop the site to address the issues outlined in the <br /> section entitled, County Website. Orange County IT is leading the effort to perform <br /> a comprehensive redevelopment of the site. This effort must include creating a new <br /> site which is more efficient for the public to find services, more efficient for <br /> departments to manage their information, and should include instituting <br /> mechanisms, such as Content Management Systems, to ensure ongoing <br /> information growth is managed gracefully. <br />