[NCASG] Cloud Technology Impacts on the IT Workforce

Tue Jan 19 09:13:38 MST 2021

Hello All,

See below responses from Massachusetts - apologies for the delay.

1.       Is management of your IT workforce centralized or decentralized?

We are working towards a hybrid model. Most IT services will be centralized (help desk, network security, etc.) with application support remaining decentralized.  We are currently about halfway through the centralization process.

2.       Is your IT workforce represented (unionized), non-represented (non-unionized) or both?

Unionized

3.       Is your IT workforce classified, at-will or both?

Classified

4.       Has your state begun moving to the cloud? If so, approximately how far along are you? 100%, 50%, etc.

We have begun moving to the cloud and have moved some of larger applications in the cloud.  Can't provide an exact % because we are measuring success based on type of application moved to the cloud (applications that are utilized enterprise-wide, etc.)

5.       What job classification changes have been made because of movement to the cloud? For example, revised, established or abolished IT job classes?

We are working on a new IT job classification plan, though not directly related to the movement to the cloud.  Our current IT workforce fall into two categories as relates to classification: one, covered under a very outdated spec (from the 1980s) that doesn't reflect actual work performed; and two, falls under a title that is used for pay purposes only and has no classification behind it. We are setting up 9 job families with approximately 50 titles.

6.       Have you made compensation changes for the IT workforce because of movement to the cloud? For example, new salary schedules, additional compensation for higher-level duties, recruitment and or recruitment incentives, other premium pays, other?

Similar to question 5, we are changing our compensation to better meet market demand, not directly related to movement to the cloud.

7.       Were there changes in the number of IT workers needed because of movement to the cloud?

a.       Increases - If you hired more IT staff, what IT skill sets did you need to recruit for to fill positions?

b.       Decreases - If you needed less IT staff, was this achieved through attrition, layoffs, reduction in force, other?

No change in number of IT workers because of movement to the cloud.

8.       Did you identify skills or knowledge gaps in the existing IT workforce because of movement to the cloud? If so, what were the gaps?

Yes, we provided training to staff and also utilized staff aug positions to fill in skills gaps

9.       Did your state need to initiate new training programs to upscale the skill sets of the IT workforce because of movement to the cloud?  If so, what trainings were provided?

Yes, we provided trainings.

10.   Do you have lessons learned from your state's move to the cloud?

a.       What worked well?

Offering training, supplementing with staff augs while also allowing staff the chance to upskill

b.       What didn't work?

Found we needed better communication to employees to understand how their jobs/responsibilities were changing

11.   Do you have any guidance or other documents related to this topic that you would be willing to share?

Attached is a copy of our proposed job families and comp  plan.  Please note, this is still in draft and not finalized yet.

McKenna Bush
Sr. Classification & Compensation Analyst
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-878-9750

From: Parker, Terri (OFM) <terri.parker at ofm.wa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:11 PM
To: NCASG (dhr_ncasg_survey_list at admws.idaho.gov) <dhr_ncasg_survey_list at admws.idaho.gov>
Cc: Hogenson, Angie (OFM) <Angie.Hogenson at OFM.WA.GOV>
Subject: [NCASG] Cloud Technology Impacts on the IT Workforce

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Hi all, this request is sent on behalf of Washington's HR Analytics and Initiatives Manager, Angie Hogenson. Let us know if you have questions. Thanks in advance for your time and assistance! We would appreciate your response by January 11, 2021.

Like other states, Washington has begun to move systems/applications to the cloud. We would like to know what other states have experienced as we try to gauge how movement to the new technology will impact the existing IT workforce. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability-any information you can provide will be helpful.

  1.  Is management of your IT workforce centralized or decentralized?