Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 | Scott Lewis‘ article “Wild ERP’s Manager Wanted Out” shines yet another light on what is wrong with this city. Is this the same computer system overhaul that former City Councilman Jim Madaffer said we needed to burn through the money for it? I agree that coordinating the city’s computer system would save money. I have experienced a very similar type of system restructure with my previous employer who’s needs were a much smaller version of the city’s accounting and reporting requirements.
While my employer’s efforts were successful, I can easily predict that the city’s attempt will be just another money pit where thousands upon thousands will be spent on consultants and studies while producing nothing of substance. Kind of like another airport study, only worse. The number of people backing away from this project tells me that the cooperation and clarity of purpose required to do this kind of restructuring successfully is sadly lacking. The end result will be a project that costs us taxpayers millions, while not producing the desired efficiency and related long term savings.
We have a city with a mayor at the helm that appoints “supporters” who are unqualified to major positions and forces good and effective people, like [Wild ERP’s former project manager] Greg Levin, to take positions they don’t want, causing them to seek employment elsewhere. If San Diego government was profiled on a television show it would be on Comedy Central. The city government needs an overhaul before we can have a successful computer system overhaul.