SA CIO looks to transform state agency

05.11.2004
Von Computing SA

Vusi Magagula, Sita CIO, has a vision to turn the state-owned agency into an organization that is respected by government and the private sector.

His plan is to transform Sita internally, by putting in place the best Information Management System Technology (IMST) practices, so that its internal structure will serve as a model for what Sita can do for government.

?You cannot respect someone who is not better than you. Sita must be better than government departments at implementing solutions, so that government sees the value of using Sita. My objective is to make Sita a model for government. We need to have the best ERP system, virtual private networks and best practices in place to exploit future technology, like voice over IP, so that government can see what we are capable of,? he says.

Magagula may have only been at Sita since July, but, by the end of August, he had already put in place an 11-point plan to bring about this transformation over a period of three years.

?By the end of 2005, the plan will be reviewed, with the goal to have 70 percent of the process complete,? he says.

The strategy includes:

-- Establishing a master systems plan implementation office to achieve all of these goals;

-- Streamlining business process;

-- Centralizing information and knowledge management;

-- Integrating and centralizing all systems and technology;

-- Establishing e-governance;

-- Implementing human capital development;

-- Creating an efficient and effective IMST environment.

Some may question whether this ambitious plan will work, but it would seem Magagula certainly has the experience to pull it off.

Before joining Sita, Magagula was CIO at the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

?When I joined Sita, I felt like I was back at the DPE four years ago, before we began addressing its technology needs.

Having done that at the DPE, I once again have the role of building an organization"s internal IT capability,? he adds.

Having previously been on the Government information technology officers (GITO) council, when he was CIO at DPE, Magagula is well aware of the workings of Sita, as the council was tasked with managing government?s relationship with Sita.

He also became intimately involved with Sita when he was appointed as chair of the GITO council standing committee on ICT procurement.

This committee was instrumental in assisting the agency to develop ICT procurement policies, and helped to develop guidelines for the establishment of Sita?s information and technology acquisition center.

?My aim is to turn Sita around in terms of ICT capability, make sure that it is respected, and make it a center for ICT innovation,? Magagula says.