The City of Akron is seeking to upgrade its IT infrastructure to best position itself to utilize technology to deliver services that are more efficient to its constituents. RNR Consulting was commissioned by the City of Akron to assess the current state of technology and develop a strategic IT plan for the City. To properly assess the “As-Is” state of technology within the City, RNR Consulting conducted the following data collection and analysis activities: 

• Reviewed the strategic plans for the past 10 Year
• Interviewed key personnel and conducted focus groups;
• Reviewed current technology;
• Reviewed the internal IT reporting processes;
• Conducted document shadowing;
• Conducted Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) analyses;
• Conducted social network analyses;
• Conducted a cultural assessment survey;
• Reviewed application architecture;
• Reviewed network architecture;
• Conducted an information technology systems audit;
• Performed an IT security risk assessment;
• Reviewed the disaster recovery plan;
• Conducted a benchmarking analysis and best practices review;
• Conducted an IT gap analysis;
• Conducted a force field analysis and developed an IT decision matrix template; and 
• Reviewed the IT policies and procedures.

RNR Consulting utilized data collected through interviews, focus groups, surveys, reviews of documents and diagrams and practical experience to create the comprehensive assessment of current IT and the City’s strategic plan for future initiatives. Based upon our analyses, we developed thirty-four (34) recommendations for the City of Akron as a means for improved utilization of Information Technology within the City. The strategic plan included a specific action plan for implementation of recommendations and a tool for objective evaluation of potential investments in IT.

RETURN TO SERVICE AREA: IT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING & IT MASTER PLANS