Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) retained RNR Consulting to conduct an assessment of its Information Systems (IS) infrastructure. KCDC has experienced significant changes within their IS Division with the retirement of the IS Director, resulting in a need for leadership within the IS Division. The focus of this Assessment was to determine IS needs and provide an IS Strategic Plan to coordinate, guide, improve, and to maintain the implementation and utilization of technologies for both internal and external customers. This assessment included a review of the technological tools utilized by staff to perform their functions, the industry software (Emphasys Elite), a review of the application and hardware infrastructures, and a skills an training assessment of the IS Staff.

As part of this review, RNR Consulting conducted the following data collection and analysis activities:

• Conducted a discovery survey
• Interviewed KCDC key personnel
• Conducted a Staffing Analysis
• Reviewed application architecture
• Examined hardware and network architecture
• Conducted benchmarking activities
• Conducted a SWOT analysis
• Developed strategic recommendations with action steps

Based upon comprehensive analysis, over thirty actionable recommendations were developed for KCDC as a method for improving utilization of Information Technology. The Plan not only included recommendations for the enhancement of operational efficiency, disaster recovery, and IS Leadership but was also focused on ensuring development and alignment of IS staff by updating staff job descriptions, developing training recommendations, recommending the creation of a permanent full time Director of IT position, and the creation of an IS Steering Committee . All proposed solutions were prioritized, grouped into quick wins, short, medium and long term initiatives, and accompanied by action steps with estimated costs for all recommendations. Additionally, this initiative also delivered a basis for ensuring that KCDC has a four to five year view into the future for technology issues and associated capital investments.