Hawai‘i Technology Transformation Program

In 2011, the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund made a $4 million grant to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i to support business transformation efforts for the State of Hawai‘i. These efforts include:

• the establishment of the Office of Information Management and Technology (OIMT) for the State of Hawai‘i;
• assessment of the state’s current information management and technology systems and procedures;
• establishment of a baseline and creation of benchmarks for the program into the future;
• identification of and support for critical emergency needs;
• implementation of short-term pilot programs to demonstrate effectiveness; and
• development of a long-term strategic plan to transform the way the state does business using technological solutions.

By establishing the state’s first-ever Office of Information Management & Technology team, including the state’s first Chief Information Officer, this program is focused on ensuring that the state’s business processes are streamlined, integrated, and implemented with the correct technology to reduce costs and increase efficiencies and effectiveness in state government; deliver better services to the public; provide greater accountability, transparency, and security; and reduce environmental impacts.

Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia was hired in July 2011 as OIMT’s Chief Information Officer. To date, four other OIMT staff members and three contractors have also been engaged to assist with this program. Utilizing the data from a baseline assessment conducted by Science Applications International Corp. that was completed at the end of September, Bhagowalia and his team will now develop a comprehensive, statewide strategic plan, which is anticipated to be completed in July 2012. In addition, the team is working on emergency and critical need projects; building support within the community for transformation activities; demonstrating successful technology and business process re-engineering projects, and securing funding to support the OIMT into the future and to implement the strategic plan elements.

For more information on the assessment, Bhagowalia and the Initiative, visit the Office of Information Management & Technology