When you start a new GIS department at an established organization, it can feel like what comes next is a total mystery. People can be suspicious of anything new, and it’s your job to determine this new department’s trajectory. Like a detective, you must find evidence that explains the who, why, where, and how of the department. Who is involved? Why is it necessary? Where will data be organized? And how will you get the department off the ground?
As the GIS manager at R.E.Y. Engineers—a land survey, civil engineering, and remote sensing company—I had a lot of research to do to get a GIS department started. Now, R.E.Y. is embracing GIS, and our GIS department is helping the organization operate more efficiently and effectively.
Who
These are the two most important whos to consider when you are discovering what your GIS department will become:
- Who will support you?
- Who will be using your systems?
These may or may not be the same stakeholder. You know GIS will be valuable to your organization—that’s why you’re doing this! If you’re lucky, you are already part of a group that is working together and knows how beneficial GIS can be. But you need other people in your company to support this endeavor.
First, read the room. Are there others in your organization who are interested in GIS? Even if they may not be your target audience, involve them in the effort. Whenever my coworkers ask me a GIS question, I make a point to enthusiastically explain the answer. Show coworkers your current projects along with GIS applications others are working on. Ask for people’s opinions of your projects to generate conversation. Word of mouth is powerful, so do what you can to get others on your team. This will look different for every organization based on its structure.
Be patient and persistent. Support will grow slowly. Some people may be less interested in GIS because they are busy or don’t yet see how it can be applied. Don’t be discouraged. This isn’t personal. Not everyone has the capacity to be a cheerleader, and that’s OK. Bring along everyone you can. When they see how GIS applies to your organization’s mission, they will come around.
This brings us to the second who on our list: the user. Whether your GIS products are internal or external, you need to consider what your stakeholders need and why. At R.E.Y., we are using GIS as a project management tool internally while trying to grow our external market. The project management angle helps my coworkers learn more about GIS in a hands-on environment, which grows GIS support.
Why
The best way to strengthen your case is with a motive. Keep your why in mind. GIS is a massive umbrella you can put many things under. It is easy to get overwhelmed or sidetracked. Establishing the reason you are creating this GIS department will help you create focused goals. What gaps are you looking to fill? What will you use GIS to accomplish?
Once you have your why, share it. Communicate with decision-makers in your organization about why this department is being established. This will give your coworkers an entry point. Even if they don’t understand how GIS works, they likely understand the value of data management or communication. Use your why to make this department more tangible.
Be a good listener. The thing you are creating may be exciting, but does it have a reason to exist? Solutions should be solving something. A new GIS department should be a response to a need. Otherwise, you may become frustrated when people don’t use your product, and users will be frustrated because it’s not what they need.
Where
We’ve all come across file structures that look like a crime scene. When establishing a new GIS department, you also need to establish early on where everything will be stored. Your organization hopefully already has file structures. If so, do your best to align new efforts with the existing file structure. At R.E.Y., we use project numbers and names to distinguish projects, so when I create a relevant ArcGIS Online map or application, I create folders using that same structure.
Starting off organized will boost your efficiency and credibility. Leave breadcrumbs through process documentation for yourself and others. Whenever I work on a new project, I create a Microsoft Word document to explain the how and the why. In this document, I include things I tried that failed, opinions I got from others on the project at each stage, and questions I have. This helps me pick up where I left off, rather than feeling lost; and if another person needs to work on or take over the project, they will be able to retrace my steps.
How
How will you actually create your GIS department? Be honest with yourself about who is currently involved, what your current resources are, what your future resources may be, what assumptions you are making, why you are creating this department, what your timeline is, and where things will be stored.
Considering all of this carefully will lead you to a plan. Your plan will change as you go. Mine changes all the time, but it gives me direction. Make your plan as specific as possible. Communicate your plan clearly with anyone involved. Highlight where you could use support from coworkers or your employer to make the department a reality. This will open the door for more questions and variables that need to be considered.
Mysteries are not solved by having all the information up front. They are solved by finding the most relevant details and piecing them together. When you create your GIS department, you won’t be able to predict the future, and you won’t have all the answers. But by taking all these factors into account, you will have a clear path forward to building a GIS department for your organization.
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