NSGIC: Recruiting a GIO

Shelby Johnson, our host here in Little Rock, hosted a panel on how to select a CIO. First, he shared results of the survey of state coordinators. He shared that:

- just a few with the title GIO
- most coordinators report to the CIO and have a close relationship, which is what NSGIC suggests.
- when the administration changes, the overwhelming response was that most coordinators are secure in the job.
- state coordinators typical oversee three or fewer staff.
- the most desirable skills include (1) being an evangelist, (2) being a people person and (3) understanding your customers and their needs. It’s interesting that these are not technical skills.

Johnson then posed a few questions to panelists including a CIOs and GIOs.

What’s the importance of the GIO?
The panel highlighted the political savvy, and importance of a GIO being the center point of GIS for the state and destroys boundaries within state government.

What are critical success factors for a GIO?
The critical success factors include the ability to break down barriers and institutionalizing geospatial services. Also, building trust and garnering funding, as well as maintain continuity of service. A governor who gets it can also be key. (Huckabee in Arkansas is pointed to as one who gets it.) So does a continuum of leadership and support within the state organization. Another panelists noted getting folks on the same page with an enterprise GIS helps show immediate return on investment.

Should the GIO be in the IT group or not?
It depends on the structure of the state, said the CIO of Georgia, – the GIO should support to the CIO, even if not house therein. In Arkansas the GIO is independent, which keeps it from having an agenda. The CIO from Wisconsin, Miszewski noted that it really doesn’t matter; “if you make a compelling business argument, you’ll get what you deserve.”

Johnson pointed to several resources for states (and others) looking to recruit GIOs including a business case analysis from the State of Georgia and GIO job descriptions which can be found on the NSGIC website.