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Desktop Environment
Desktop Environment
Innovative personal technology for government staff
The Desktop Environment program is identifying suitable and affordable personal computers and other devices to support the future needs of government employees. It will provide guidance on the best models for technology, licensing and funding and support innovation and best practice for improved service delivery. The program also examines the potential for consolidating and integrating email and messaging across government.
Rationale…
With more than 300,000 employees, the NSW Government has an ongoing need to manage and reduce procurement and maintenance costs for desktop environments, personal computers and servers.
In addition, a significant underlying need exists for a stable technology foundation to allow the implementation of other whole-of-government ICT initiatives.
The program also looks at the direction forward to open source software and other alternative solutions.
Our opportunity…
- reduce the costs of buying and supporting personal computers and related applications
- increased support of common processes with increased use of open standards
- more stable and robust desktop and server environments with increased sharing of standard operating environments and email and messaging systems
- adoption of open source solutions and other alternative software where beneficial
- reduced environmental waste and energy consumption.
Scope of the program…
- computer hardware – personal computers (PCs), notebooks and servers
- new hardware devices – accessing and entering information using an increasing range of emerging devices such as hand-held devices
- software systems to operate these hardware devices
- basic productivity software – for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other applications
- email and related messaging systems
- related back-end systems
- researching alternative solutions such as “cloud networking” (networked access to remote applications and documents).
For example…
With over 300,000 employees it’s a large task to ensure that workers have the tools to get the job done. Engineers, doctors, and police are just some of the NSW Government employees needing cutting edge technology, not only in their offices, but also in the field.
Access to the latest computer applications and hardware provides NSW Government employees (whatever their job) with the tools to get their jobs done efficiently and effectively.
This project seeks to ensure NSW Government agencies have access to innovative and relevant technology at an affordable price.
To date…
Significant savings over a four year life cycle from new contracts covering government personal computers and associated equipment and services driving our technology dollar further; and
Establishment of a government standard allowing suppliers to reduce costs and agencies create efficiencies in their operation and maintenance.
Commitments to December 2009
- Future Desktop strategy.
- Open Source Software Desktop pilot established and evaluated.
- New arrangements with Microsoft for desktop software.
- Review the Government standard for desktop hardware for contract with suppliers every 6 months.
