Wade's 2018 Esri UC presentation Discover why using anecdotes to describe GIS success is detrimental, hidden clues to real impacts stemming from GIS projects, a tool for creating ROI investigations.

1. Moving Beyond Anecdotal
GIS Success -
An ROI conversation
Wade Kloos
GIS Director,
Utah Dept. of Natural Resources
wkloos@utah.gov

2. This presentation is part of the GIS Manager Track
All sessions are in SDCC Ballroom 20A
Wednesday
• 8:30-9:30AM – Enterprise GIS Strategic Planning for Success
• 10:00-11:00 AM – Architecting the ArcGIS Platform: Best Practices
• 1:00-2:00 PM – Communicating the Value of GIS
• 2:30-3:30 PM – Workforce Development Planning: A People Strategy for
Organizations
Thursday
• 8:30-9:30 AM – Increase GIS Adoption by Integrating Change Management
• 10:00-11:00 AM – Supporting Government Transformation & Innovation
• 1:00-2:00 PM – Governance for GIS
• 2:30-3:30 PM – Moving Beyond Anecdotal GIS Success – An ROI Conversation

3. First a definition…
An·ec·do·tal, adjective:
:based on or consisting of reports or observations of
usually unscientific observers.
:not necessarily true or reliable, because anecdotes are
based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Google

4. Anecdotal GIS success is…
Common and informal “Field apps help streamline work”
Not specific and not evidence “Reduces the time it takes to do inspections”
Temptation for exaggeration “GIS – A real game changer for…”
Easily forgotten “Last year our GIS team...”
Insufficient to build GIS credibility “What was it you did for me lately?”
Unavoidable “Let me tell you a story about our GIS”

5. …a better definition
An·ec·do·tal, adjective:
:that statement of GIS accomplishment your
organization leaders forgot right after you said it.
:a lost opportunity to communicate actual business
data to prove your GIS did something meaningful.
Wade’s GIS Management Dictionary

6. An anecdotal example of GIS Success;
ArcNews, Summer 2018

7. • Call to Action
• Business Problem
and Priority
• High Organizational
Value Opportunity
ROI DISCOVERY

8. What was the cost
of doing business
before the GIS
improvement
project?
ROI DISCOVERY
Anecdotal

9. What was the cost
of doing business
before the GIS
improvement
project?
ROI DISCOVERY
GIS Superhero
Host of Speaking of GIS
Podcast
Speakingofgis.com
Anecdotal

10. Could costs be
avoided: current
vs. future state
solution?
GIS enhancement
costs need to be
tallied – this is the
“investment” part
ROI DISCOVERY

11. Excellent, actual
business data!
…but,
comparing current
and future state
results could be
more impressive
and is needed to
determine the
amount of
improvement
ROI DISCOVERY

12. A suggestion of
broad project and
organizational
benefits
Could data quality
improvements be
measured? How
would better data
impact the
organization?
ROI DISCOVERY

13. Evidence of
organizational
recognition of how
GIS can spearhead
organizational
change
ROI DISCOVERY

16. http://bit.ly/2018GISROI

19. Simple (financial) ROI equation:
ROI = (Gain – Investment) / Investment ROI = (A – B) /B = D
A more conservative and appropriate
ROI equation for GIS Projects: ROI = (A – B) / (B + C) = E
A B C D E

20. A B C D E

25. Capability

26. GIS successes that are not
anecdotal involve:
• Questions
• Measurements
• Documentation
• Communication
These are the foundation for Trust

27. Organizational leaders are not usually
aware of how much they need a spatially-
enabled, change agent
Envision yourself fulfilling that need and
being capable of leading that change

28. Check out ArcUser Magazine, 2016 editions for a four-part series on Utah DNR’s approach to ROI

29. Wade Kloos
GIS Director,
Utah Dept. of Natural Resources
wkloos@utah.gov
801-503-4072
Questions