More bailing on failed software

For over a year, Governor Robert Bentley repeatedly received warnings concerning the many technological and systematic failures under the leadership of Acting Finance Director, Bill Newton, and his assistant, Rex McDowell.

The time and attendance management system eSTART is just one of several software solutions to fail so badly; it had to be abandoned. A recent letter from State Health Officer Thomas M. Miller, M.D., informed the staff of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), that eSTART would no longer be used to report time and attendance.

“I would like to inform each of you that ADPH will be suspending its use of eSTART at the end of the current pay period (November 15, 2016),” Miller wrote. “I know many of you worked very hard to try and make eSTART work, but it continues to be an unjustifiable burden in its current form.” Across State government’s sprawling bureaucracy, the unwarranted burden of eSTART is estimated to have cost tens of millions in lost productivity, software, and new contractors, according to insiders.

“I have spoken with Dr. Joanne Hale, Director of the Office of Information Technology, Clinton Carter, the new State Finance Director, and Jackie Graham, State Personnel Director, regarding my decision to suspend use of eSTART and the need for it to be modified to fit the complexity of ADPH and to be user friendly,” said Miller. “I am committed to helping them where needed to address the limitations of eSTART and perhaps to use it again in the future.”

Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/more-bailing-on-failed-software/