30/10/2021
** My thoughts: A repost from the PNG ICT Community Page.
Lately, I try not to comment on matters that are not in my lane or space. I also especially try not to comment on matters that are in my lane or space (tech in PNG). I feel noise is made and nothing really gets done for the most part. And that's why I stay quiet these days. Not because I don't care but because I see no point commenting.
At the same time, I also feel that if you know a problem exists, are capable of solving problems and don't offer solutions to problems then you are effectively part of the problem.
So I make judgement calls on what to comment on and what to not comment on.
I feel I need to comment on the recent debarcle at the Department of Finance.
I feel the solution is simply to hire specialist to implement & manage a solution. A real specialist with real-world qualifications and a real world portfolio of clients and projects. Not a mate or buddy or wantok. Local or non local doesn't matter. Quality and benchmarks matter. Be it on a full time basis or an ad-hoc needs basis.
ICT is a diverse & multi-disciplined field. It is literally impossible for us to know everything. And that's the very reason why we all specialise & that's why we collaborate to get bigger picture organisational stuff done.
The role of ICT = What are our organisation objectives and how can ICT facilitate these objectives efficiently (efficencies in time, money, resources and outcomes).
I'm assuming most Government departments in PNG already have an interal ICT team, lead by an "ICT Manager" or "ICT Team Leader". Now, an ICT manager isn't expected to know everything, but an ICT Manager is expected to know how to get things done and have his/her department and team in order. The buck stops with him/her. If you can't get stuff done internally then it's 100% OK to complement your capabilities by hiring external specialist help.
The world we live in today is connected. We are in ICT. We have zero excuses to reach out for help domestically or internationally.
With all due respect, any and all suggestions otherwise is literally just noise from sources not qualified or experienced to have input. I see a lot of casuals making noise when they are not worthy of making noise. Papua New Guinea doesn't need Google-search experts, we need real world experts.
There are highly qualified, highly skilled, highly experienced Papua New Guineans for any role under the sun.
It's about time we had a formalised & transparent tenders, job application & gig/project application solution that allows organisations to connect with individuals or teams that can assist & complement our in-house ICT teams get stuff done. This also goes beyond the "ICT" rehlm to all sectors needing this.
Perhaps a good start is for the PNG Department of ICT to put out a public tender for the development & implementation of such a solution. The contract be awarded to the best-fit solution provider. And the process be a transparent and well managed process.
To my understanding (I've been out of PNG for a while now), we have a Central Supply & Tenders Board (CTSB) already tasked with this mission. I've been had first-hand experience at CSTB years back and it was not working in general.
Reality = people think we (PNG) are a joke. Trust me, I recieve it directly and indirectly in various settings especially abroad just being a Papua New Guinean. We can shut people up by getting our own stuff profesionally sorted, consistently. There's nothing but humilty and respect from other parties when you get stuff done at a high level and not settle for anything less.
Start small, focus on quality, focus on standards and benchmarks. Be good where you are now and get better every day. Individually and collectively. Never settle for "OK" or "good enough".
We can do this. We can sort this out ourselves as Papua New Guineans.
We are a developing nation. And it's OK to be small. So long as we are continually growing and always persuing quality. For our children and their children to enjoy the shade of a tree we have to plant that tree today. Nobody will plant that tree for us.
We need that fair, transparent and well managed jobs, projects and tenders solution. PNG ICT Department you're doing good things so far, let's follow through & get stuff done. You have sons and daughters of PNG ready to serve.
Sir John said workers are using a temporary accounting system after the IFMS was hit last week but did not reveal the real extent of the damage, saying only that the hackers did not steal anything but damaged a system that now puts PNG’s national security at risk.
