[kictanet] ICT Authority, not Treasury, should oversee IFMIS

Thu Jan 19 10:50:04 EAT 2017

Dr. Ndemo,

Do you have any comments on the IFMIS Implementation strategy. e.g.

Should its role be strategic or operational?

Should it be a centralized System or a distributed system?

Regards,

Alex 

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From: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Sent: ‎Thursday‎, ‎January‎ ‎19‎, ‎2017 ‎9‎:‎34‎ ‎AM
To: 'Watila Alex - Current'
Cc: Bitange Ndemo

I try to keep off GOK matters but let me comment on IFMIS once and for all.  IFMIS is a system.  It entails software, hardware, peopleware and procedures.  The absence of regular system audits means that the software is interfered with.  Anyone will tell you that what is currently used as IFMIS is not the original version.  There is need to know who makes software changes and if the changes are noted.  Just like accounting you cannot have the auditor doing the accounting work.  There must be checks and balances.  On the Hardware side, it is people who switch the servers off whenever you hear that the system is down.  The problem is people and that what we need to deal with.  My considered opinion is to move the servers elsewhere, remove the peopleware and conduct regular system audits.  Perhaps Software as a service may be the best way out.  Further, there must be consequences for misuse of passwords.

This may sound simple but there are cartels who "own" and run the entire system.  So no matter what you do, you are at the mercy of their imaginations.  Just ask why isn't the managed by ICT Ministry.

Ndemo

On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 11:17 AM, Mutemi wa Kiama via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

From my layman's point of view, IFMIS is a product GoK bought. Once you purchase a product, you must have/build the internal capacity to use it competently. 

Regards,

Edwin

On 17 Jan 2017 23:03, "S.M. Muraya via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Doubt Treasury economists and accountants are well placed to provide Cyber Security :)

We need the ICT Authority to configure enterprise wide data protection (limiting theft of passwords & access to IFMIS).

In 2016, the UN ranked the UK as # 1 in providing digital services.

https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2016

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is part of their Cabinet Office, not their Treasury.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/govuk-pay/govuk-pay

Their Treasury is consulted about the payment system  👆🏾  the GDS continues to build. 

SMM

"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." Prov 16:32

On Tue, Jan 17, 2017 at 9:45 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:

I fundamentally disagree with this assertion.

First,y, the role of a CIO is to support the enterprise. I have never heard in my life of an ERP Director. This is just adding a superfluous layer of useless bureaucracy.

The owner of an ERP is the business with each department taking ownership of their components:-

1. Financials - CFO

2. CRM (Commercial/marketing/sales)

3. Procurement - Procurement which sometimes comes under Finance

Etc.

The CIO takes ownership to ensure that the company is well oiled to execute on its mandate. This in my humble opinion goes beyond ERPs and talks to aligning the Technology Strategy with the Business Strategy. For example in the banking sector where increasingly the more savvy banks are taking a 'Platform Thinking' approach. This allows partners to plug into their core technology through APIs to enable them extend capabilities and hence offerings to their customers.

The role of a CIO has fundamentally changed to speak to the need for using Technology as an accelerator to successful business models.

Secondly, I don't see how the ICT Authority would be better in managing the monster that is IFMIS. Let them first learn the basics of communicating effectively with the community before taking on this elephant in the room.

Ali Hussein

Principal

Hussein & Associates

+254 0713 601113 

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."  ~ Aristotle

Sent from my iPad

On 17 Jan 2017, at 6:42 PM, S.M. Muraya via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Interesting comments... 

ICT Authority, not Treasury, should oversee IFMIS

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-3520560-5j04aq/index.html

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