Annual Report Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic 2008

5.
ment, the need to integrate the existing information
systems of the MFA, and the Act on Information
Systems in Public Administration, and the
Concept of eGovernment all pointed to the need
for new ICT. The Concept defines the basic starting
points and principles in this area. It identifies
projects for the accelerating process of computerizing
public administration, and lays emphasis on
the security of the information systems.
Following its analyses of 2008, the MFA was
able to conceptually approach the implementation
of five priority projects, which have already
been realized in this area (with the exception of
the No-Paper Office project) or are currently in the
more advanced stages of realization (Diagram 11).
A strategy of cooperation management involving
a consultant in information and communication
technologies has been chosen due to the
fact that there is a high number of information
systems operating within the internal MFA environment,
however, they are not all connected.
The role of the consultant will be to assist the
expert bodies of the MFA in the process of gradually
integrating all the ICT systems in accordance
with the approved information systems concept
of the department. Respect for the principles of
cost efficiency and platform independence are a
fundamental condition of the gradual system integration.
In 2008, as planned, work was begun in
organizing the selection process for hiring a new
consultant. This will be realized in the course of
2009. The department management chose not
to opt for the expensive approach of replacing
current ICT systems with one integrated system.
Instead, it opted for a gradual integration of the
existing systems into one through the process
model and with the assistance of the external
consultant.
In 2008, the MFA was able to draft a departmental
concept on the information system
which defined the main directions and strategic
tasks the MFA information systems will take until
2013, in full accordance with the National Concept
of Public Administration.
The quality of the MFA Helpdesk was improved
in 2008. It ensures that solutions are actively
sought to the requests of internal employees
with feedback following. This project is currently
in test phase and there are plans to involve an external
supplier in 2009.
The so-called No-Paper Office is one of the larger
priority projects which have not yet been implemented
due to the lack of resources and capacity
limitations. The No-Paper Office is one of the
basic elements involved in creating a digital MFA.
At the moment much of the work carried out by
Solution
of Problems
Self-Management
Ability to Work
under Pressure
Adaptability
Analytical and
Concept Thinking
Communication
Empathic
Assertiveness
Character
Management and
Self-Management
Coping with Stress
Knowing Oneself
and Goals of Personal
Development
Management
Basics
Respecting
the Rules of Social
Contact
Solution of
Problems in
Conflict Situations
Time
Management
Time
Management
Coping with Stress
Character
Management and
Self-Management
Empathic
Assertiveness
Diagram 10: Composition of the Education Module in the New System
the MFA is in the form of handwritten documents
and materials. The physical processing required,
the extensive paper agenda, the inconsistency of
the end results, the time-consuming nature of
the monitoring of documents, and the opaque
way in which individual tasks or requests are carried
out are some of the issues relating to the use
of written documentation at the MFA. The ICT
project was planned for 2009 but its implementation
had to be temporarily postponed due to
significant reductions in financial resources.
Technologies Make Our Access
to the Citizens and Colleagues
More Effective
In addition to the internal improvements to the
MFA technological environment, in 2008 these
Description of Identified
Opportunities
ANALYTICAL PHASE – OUTPUTS
Strategic Plans – Analytical Part – ICT Field
Strategic Plans – Conceptual Part
Strategy of Information and
Communication Technologies
Diagram 11: Implementation of 5 Priority Projects
Change
Management
Decision-Making
Techniques
Communication
Skills
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
– PROJECT CARDS
System Integrator
Strategy of ISPA
Development
MIS (without
consultant cooperation)
Helpdesk (without
consultant cooperation)
No-Paper Office
IS Security Policy
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