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I <br /> expertise in network design. This planning effort will require a statement of requirements for the <br /> network, taking into account the initiatives described below. The requirements statement should be <br /> prepared by IS staff with input from departments, the county commissioners, and, if appointed. the <br /> Citizens Advisory Council, described in initiative 6, below. This planning process should be <br /> completed by June, 1998, so that continued upgrade of the network can proceed smoothly in the <br /> transition from short-term to long-term phases during the second half of 1998. <br /> 2. Gpgrade the pool of county PCs, bringing them up to a minimal maintainable standard. To meet <br /> future needs, part of this initiative will be to establish a policy of systematic upgrades based on the <br /> different levels of computing capacity required by employees doing different jobs and on <br /> costs/benefits analysis. <br /> This recommendation is based on the point of view that the county should adopt a life-cycle <br /> replacement policy. Under such a policy, some fraction of the county's PCs (e.g., 20 %) will be <br /> replaced each year, rather than replacing all or most of them at any one time. New, more powerful <br /> machines will be assigned to users with the greatest needs; their machines in turn, will be <br /> reassigned to other users with less demanding requirements, etc., thereby maximizing PC utilization <br /> throughout the organization. Such a policy should reduce maintenance costs, for software as well as <br /> hardware, and will enable the County Commissioners to anticipate and budget capital expenditures <br /> for computing equipment more accurately. <br /> To start this process, the pool of county PCs should be brought up to a specified minimum standard. <br /> After that, IS staff, in consultation with the departments, will prepare a list of proposed upgrades <br /> each year. To insure that machines can provide useful service for the life-cycle duration adopted, <br /> machines should be purchased that provide slightly more than the minimum capacity required at the <br /> time of purchase but, in most cases, one or two levels below the most expensive top-of-the-line <br /> systems currently being offered. <br /> 3. Establish more effective technical support and training programs. Several kinds of services are <br /> needed. Timely response to system outages must be available. This includes quick-response help, <br /> both by phone and by e-mail. A small pool of spare equipment and parts should also be available <br /> for fast swap-out replacements. As new equipment and the upgraded network are put into service, <br /> training must be provided to both IS staff and county personnel. Training should not be limited to <br /> just the mechanics of using the new hardware and software, but also address more effective work <br /> procedures made possible by the upgrades. <br /> In order to make technical support more responsive to the needs of the departments and the <br /> personnel who work within them, a technical support team within the IS department should be made <br /> responsible for providing that support. While these individuals may be able to provide all of the <br /> services needed during some or most of the time, supplemental part-time help should be planned for <br /> and individuals or vendors identified who can provide those services as needed. Having additional <br /> help is especially important when shipments of new equipment are received to insure that all <br /> equipment is configured and functioning properly. An inventory of swap-out computers and parts <br /> should also be maintained. <br /> Similarly, a the Personnel department training coordinator should be continue to work with <br /> departmental contacts to determine their computer-related training needs and to arrange training to <br /> meet those needs. Departments should also identify departmental PC coordinators who can help <br />