{"id":433202,"date":"2021-06-02T19:13:28","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T02:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcuser&p=433202"},"modified":"2021-12-01T14:08:22","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T22:08:22","slug":"organizational-support-is-key-to-initiatives-success","status":"publish","type":"arcuser","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcuser\/organizational-support-is-key-to-initiatives-success","title":{"rendered":"Organizational Support Is Key to Initiative\u2019s Success"},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[25032,430971,134062],"tags":[472461,1121,474502],"arcuser_issues":[474432],"class_list":["post-433202","arcuser","type-arcuser","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education-2","category-esri-training-2","category-transportation-2","tag-arcuser","tag-change-management","tag-la-metro","arcuser_issues-spring-2021"],"acf":{"short_description":"Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority uses change management techniques to help its GIS modernization,","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":433222,"file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has undertaken an enterprise GIS modernization initiative designed to transform its business and build a better transportation future for the people of Southern California. Supporting LA Metro\u2019s own people during this transformation has been a key strategy in the success of this initiative.\r\n\r\nAt LA Metro, location is central to everything the organization does. Bus and rail lines serve distinct geographic areas, with routes and stops located to meet the needs of the public. Physical assets and incidents have unique locations. Access to accurate location data is essential for mission-critical workflows, including maintenance and safety.\r\n\r\nMultiple business units use ArcGIS software, but historically GIS workflows have been siloed. Different departments used different ArcGIS products and versions of those products. This siloed environment made it difficult to share data, plan, and collaborate across business lines.\r\n

Solving the Silo Challenge<\/h3>\r\nLA Metro engaged Esri Services to help it implement a location strategy that would standardize its enterprise GIS infrastructure and applications while delivering new capabilities such as digital asset inspection and real-time situational awareness. This new strategy would also streamline departmental workflows, increase operational efficiencies<\/a>, and enhance communication and collaboration among multiple teams.\r\n\r\nThis location strategy is being implemented in three phases. Each phase impacts workflows across the organization. Enterprise-wide adoption of new tools and apps relies on many individuals changing how they perform their daily work. This creates a challenge for employees and managers alike.\r\n\r\nEarly on, the location strategy team identified that supporting the workforce throughout implementation should be a key strategy. Consequently, Esri\u2019s people-focused change management was included as a deliverable in the implementation plan.\r\n\r\nLA Metro\u2019s Information and Technology Services (ITS) department is coordinating the location strategy implementation. Phase 1 activities included ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro deployments and the development of apps that support asset management and other high-priority workflows.\r\n\r\nAnika-Aduesa I. Smart, ITS GIS program manager, leads the adoption strategy. As project plans were communicated to GIS teams, Smart detected apprehension. This is a common reaction when familiar technology and entrenched workflows are changed. Smart\u2019s goal was to devise an effective adoption strategy that would support both a successful phase 1 implementation and a healthy enterprise GIS ecosystem for the future.\r\n\r\n\u201cThis was about building a community to deliver a cohesive business solution for everyone,\u201d she said. Because change management was included in the location strategy implementation plan, Smart had tools at her disposal to win sustained support for a new approach to GIS.\r\n

A Turning Point<\/h3>\r\nIn fall 2020, Smart worked with Esri change management consultant Michael Green to deliver a customized, one-day virtual workshop called Preparing for Change. Workshop participants included GIS managers and professionals, project managers, and senior leadership from multiple LA Metro departments.\r\n\r\nSmart understood that engaging these stakeholders would lead to a quicker pace of adoption after the phase 1 launch. In the longer term, this approach would promote wider adoption of GIS apps and technology.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt was important for us all to be on the same page,\u201d said Smart. One goal was gaining consistent sponsorship for the implementation through increasing participants\u2019 awareness of GIS capabilities and business benefits. After establishing a common vision, participants encourage their employees to \u201cthink geospatial.\u201d\r\n\r\nDuring the workshop, each participant was asked, \u201cIf every member of your organization would fully embrace and unleash the power of your geospatial strategy, what would the outcome look like for your business?\u201d\r\n\r\nThis question sparked brainstorming around new GIS apps that could benefit each department. Participants spent the afternoon exploring change management activities, including stakeholder analysis, communication techniques, and resistance management."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":433252,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

GIS for Everyone<\/h3>\r\nPhase 1 of the location strategy implementation was completed at the end of 2020. The modern enterprise GIS infrastructure is now in place. Eleven departments are actively engaging with new ArcGIS apps.\r\n\r\nSmart is committed to expanding adoption throughout LA Metro. She is marketing the value of GIS to departments that did not participate in phase 1. She\u2019s adopted the slogan GIS for Everyone and focuses on sharing the message that technology can enhance their work and improve decision-making.\r\n\r\nThrough outreach activities like \u201clunch and learns,\u201d Smart is broadcasting GIS team successes and building a network of GIS champions. These are classic change management strategies for maintaining momentum for change and reinforcing it so that new practices become embedded in the organization.\r\n\r\nThe hard work is paying off.\r\n\r\n\u201cPeople are more excited about GIS. It\u2019s literally catching on like wildfire,\u201d she said. Smart is working with the community relations department to integrate its data into the enterprise GIS. She is also working with the marketing department on a collaboration platform based on ArcGIS Hub. In addition to enabling easy access to information products that support marketing projects, the hub site will be a central location for LA Metro\u2019s various GIS teams to share their work and collaborate. Sharing and collaboration between teams did not happen prior to the location strategy implementation.\r\n

The Road Ahead<\/h3>\r\nFor phase 2, Smart wants to ensure that executive sponsors remain actively engaged. In a large, busy organization, maintaining executive attention throughout a complex technology project is challenging.\r\n\r\nThe location strategy implementation plan includes a change management retainer package that Smart will use to test-drive ideas with Green. He acts as a sounding board and adviser on how to best utilize change management techniques when challenges arise.\r\n\r\n\u201cIn some ways, we\u2019re building the airplane while flying it,\u201d Smart said. \u201cChange management is a solid framework, but it also gives us flexibility to innovate and address unique situations in our GIS environment. It\u2019s exactly in tune with what a successful GIS ecosystem should be: flexible and innovative.\u201d The communication framework has helped Smart gain valuable insight into executive engagement, assess how well the implementation is being received, and adjust her efforts as needed."},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","image":433272,"text":"People are more excited about GIS. It\u2019s literally catching on like wildfire.","author_name":"Anika-Aduesa I. Smart ","author_profession_organization":"LA Metro ITS GIS Program Manager"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"This approach has been successful. Bryan Sastokas, LA Metro\u2019s chief information technology officer (CITO), remains an active sponsor of the initiative and encourages department leaders to embrace geospatial capabilities.\r\n\r\nLeading change management efforts to support LA Metro\u2019s location strategy has been a rewarding experience for Smart professionally. Her work has directly led to faster adoption of the technology and an increase in the number of GIS users. One of the most valuable outcomes of applying change management is that departments that once viewed ITS as trying to dictate technology use now view Smart\u2019s team as a valued partner for improving efficiencies and innovating with GIS.\r\n\r\nThe implementation focus has shifted to data governance, and Smart is optimistic that change management techniques will continue to serve her well as more LA Metro departments embrace a location strategy.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the Esri course, Preparing for Change<\/a>. For more information on LA Metro\u2019s initiative, contact Smart at SmartA@metro.net."}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"\nLA Metro project transformed by change management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has an enterprise GIS modernization initiative. 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