GIS Managers Summit session recap: Enabling Innovation
GIS Managers Summit session recap: Enabling Innovation
from @MatthewLewin1
At this year’s GIS Manager’s Summit, I was fortunate to host a panel titled Enabling Innovation where we discussed how embracing innovation is crucial for GIS teams to stay relevant and impactful in their organizations. I had the pleasure of moderating a conversation with three outstanding panelists: @ScottWeisman from Tallahassee-Leon County. James Alberque from the City of Raleigh, and Pino Nobile from NATO.
Each brought a unique perspective and practical experiences in driving innovation within their GIS teams. Jim shared insights on how his team in Raleigh leverages emerging technologies to deliver GIS and IT services to the city and its residents. Scott discussed the grassroots efforts in North Florida to build a culture that supports trying new GIS ideas, even if they might not succeed right away. Pino highlighted the strategies that have helped him secure leadership support for investing in GIS innovation at NATO Headquarters.
One of the key takeaways from the panel was the importance of fostering a culture of continuous improvement and creativity. The panelists emphasized that innovation should be ingrained into the day-to-day operations of GIS programs. They shared real-world examples and lessons learned, such as the need to involve non-GIS teams in the innovation process and the importance of having a framework that allows for testing and growing new ideas without getting bogged down by red tape.
Looking ahead, the panelists agreed that organizations must do things differently to keep GIS innovative and impactful, including adopting new tools and technologies at the right time and managing change effectively when replacing familiar tools.
