As the adage goes, “the only constant in life is change,” and apart from the weather, perhaps the thing that changes most frequently is technology.  What was state-of-the-art just five years ago is now hopelessly outdated.

Businesses have no choice but to evolve with changing technology.  Failure to do so could lead to underperformance or even bankruptcy.  Government agencies may not face those same market pressures, but they nevertheless should strive to update their operations to account for new technology.  This week’s Highlights features the work of two agencies that responded successfully to technological change.

 

The Cemetery Board eliminates a paper-mailing requirement.

When was the last time you checked your mail for something important?  These days, virtually every important document is transmitted online.  Physical mail now generally consists of little more than unwanted solicitations.

The Cemetery Board, an agency under the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), recently eliminated a requirement for mailing license- and registration-related documents.  Like other DPOR boards, the Cemetery Board is moving to electronic filing in the near future.

This will save the agency money and will make it easier and faster for licensees to submit applications.  It will also help carry out Executive Order 39’s mandate for agencies to transition to electronic filing. 

 

The Department of Education eliminates an out-of-date regulation on technical proficiency for school personnel.

If you were born before the year 2000, you probably remember sitting through computer literacy courses in school.  Though relevant at the time, the training you received is almost certainly obsolete by today’s standards.

The Department of Education recently identified a regulation on technological proficiency for instructional personnel.  It is very outdated and fails to account for new technologies like smartphones or social media.  The Department therefore decided to rescind the standard.

And rather than try to update the statewide regulation, the Department decided to give local school divisions greater autonomy to design their own standards.  This is a very wise approach.  By the time the Department finalized a new standard, it, too, would likely be out-of-date.  And local divisions will now be able to tailor the standards to meet their specific needs.