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DRAFT MEMO ON CPAC SUGGESTIONS REGARDING SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS

From: Chief Hydrologist

Subject: CPAC recommendations to Districts regarding System Administrators

CPAC is concerned that increasing pressure to reduce common service rates and ever increasing demands on system administrators (SAs) and their staffs, have led to situations where computer services, in many cases, are not being effectively delivered to WRD personnel. CPAC reports overloaded SAs not having time to take technical training, not loading the latest versions or releases of software, and not reading WRD guidance on computer issues. Such lapses have likely compounded operational problems. In some instances, replenishing expendables and doing day-to-day routine tasks are being done by SAs and could be performed by lower-graded employees, such as students. CPAC envisions, if nothing is done to reverse this situation, that additional demands such as installing a new computer platform, implementing a new mail system, and installing the 3_2 and 4_1 releases of NWIS in the next year will, at best, degrade delivery of computer services even more. There is every reason to anticipate that similar demands will continue well into the future.

To help rectify this situation, I am asking that all District Chiefs and Regional Hydrologists take the following recommendations of CPAC to heart and apply them wherever you can. The individual situations from District to District must be carefully evaluated and decisions made on a case-by-case basis on how best to proceed. You may have other ideas that will work as well or better than the following.

• Critically evaluate the training and experience of SAs and computer-section staff for dealing with increasingly complex computer issues. Provide additional training, if needed.
• Critically evaluate computer-section work load and utilize lower-graded staff for routine tasks.
• Assure that SAs have sufficient time to both understand WRD technical guidance materials as well as to continually upgrade to the latest versions of operating systems and applications.
• Enlist the help of computer-section staff to institute time-saving procedures or equipment.
• Support SAs need to continually evaluate District computer-related problems and to adjust problem-solving resources based on prioritized importance. Try to avoid redirection of attention to lower-priority issues.
• Initiate or re-emphasize periodic in-depth discussions of computer topics between SAs, District management, and Office of Information staff.
• Include the computer operations in District review schedule.
• Explore the use of contractors and other outside vendors for selected hardware and software support.
• Promote greater networking of SAs, hold periodic Regional SA meetings, and encourage attendance at National Computer Technology Meetings to exchange ideas and plan for the future.
• Assure appropriate recognition and rewards to SAs and computer-section staff for outstanding performance.
• Enlist the expertise and guidance of Regional Computer Specialists and the Distributed Information System Program Office in upgrading capabilities of District computer sections.