The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2024
Continued from previous page
their rationale . Second , determine the prospective partner ’ s willingness to tailor their approach based on the department ’ s needs . A good partner will put tailoring at the center of their planning and will be capable of explaining their rationale .
Uncertainty management Projects are unique endeavors , and their uniqueness produces much uncertainty . Known and unknown risks constantly threaten project success . Despite its significance , uncertainty management is frequently overlooked in many projects . Prospective partners should have a robust project risk management approach that includes how risks will be identified , monitored and controlled . They also understand that uncertainty can produce opportunities , and they will have a system to identify and capture opportunities that improve project delivery . When evaluating a prospective partner , ask them to explain how they manage uncertainty and what risk management support they will provide to the department ’ s project team . A good partner will emphasize the importance of risk identification , response and communication .
Change management Integrating new technology into existing or new operations requires effective change management . Regardless of the intended benefits , the department ’ s project team will need to overcome change resistance , establish a new way of working , and ensure that the organization does not regress to the pre-delivery state . Failing to fully integrate the new technology makes even an excellently delivered product or service a project failure . Ask prospective partners what kind of support they can provide for the department ’ s project team in managing change . This assistance should at minimum include end-user demonstrations and training tailored to the departments specific use case .
Project leadership The service partner ’ s project leadership is arguably the most important proficiency evaluation . The availability of professionally certified project managers is an excellent indication that a service provider will be an effective project partner . Internationally recognized project management certifications require years of demonstrated experience and rigorous examination to attain . During the procurement process , ask prospective partners whether they can make available any professionally certified project managers and what role those project managers will have in leading the project . A partner ’ s professionally certified project manager teaming with the police department ’ s project team greatly improves the chances of project success and can provide valuable experience to the department ’ s team .
Foundation for the future The benefits realized by incorporating this blueprint into a police department ’ s strategy extend to any improvement or modernization initiative . The cutting-edge of policing modernization includes solutions that leverage the Internet of Things ( IoT ) to enhance situational awareness and mission management at every organizational level . The IoT describes the integration of technology into the physical world through sensors connected to the internet .
Police officers already interact with connected devices daily , including radios , smartphones , computers , body-worn cameras , drones , passive collection devices and other internet-connected systems . Integrating a police department ’ s sensors with an all-inone platform produces a portable , virtual command board that improves situational awareness , optimizes responses and enhances resource efficiency and effectiveness . IoT-enhanced situational awareness solutions reduce operational complexity and offer real-time , accurate and actionable data that optimizes mission management .
The near future includes the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning , which promises further advancements in policing technology . The hear of policing must begin preparing today to capture the benefits of tomorrow ’ s advanced technology . These benefits can be delivered by preparing a department ’ s interdisciplinarians to manage projects in partnership with projectproficient service providers .
About the author Chris Shields , MSPM , PMP , is director of project management for Knowmadics Inc ., and a former lieutenant for the City of Manassas ( Virginia ) Police Department .
19