Digitisation and Cloud Migration: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario's Experience
About the Legislative Assembly of Ontario | Canada. Written on January, 2022
Introduction
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has embarked on a significant digital transformation journey, focusing on the adoption of cloud technologies and the digitisation of their systems. This essay examines a detailed case presentation highlighting the challenges, strategies, and successes of the assembly's digitisation and cloud migration initiatives. The presentation also points to potential future directions for the organisation.
The Assembly's Digital Transformation Context
Serving close to 15 million Ontarians, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario operates with nearly 400 staff, including political staff and constituency offices. The assembly's main responsibilities include debating and passing legislation, and its operations are primarily conducted in downtown Toronto. However, since the onset of the pandemic, much of the assembly's work has been carried out remotely, introducing a new set of challenges to the organisation's operations.
The Information Services branch, one of the assembly's four major divisions, spearheads the assembly's digital transformation. This branch focuses on the development of in-house systems, digital content creation, content management, records management, and the promotion of accessibility and open data.
The Digital Transformation Journey
In 2018, the assembly reached a tipping point. Its in-house teams struggled with a complex array of legacy applications, various programming languages, and on-premise systems. The challenges were not just technical; the assembly's staff faced the daunting task of learning multiple system interfaces and processes. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further underscored these challenges, particularly the difficulty in accessing on-premise systems remotely.
Recognising the need for change, the assembly developed an Application Modernisation Program, which aimed to streamline, standardise, and consolidate its systems. The goal was to simplify the technical landscape, improving both user experience and system maintenance.
A Methodical Approach to Modernisation
The assembly adopted a systematic approach to modernise each system, emphasising consistency in documentation, governance, and project processes. It utilised agile development principles, allowing for iterative improvements and constant feedback from end-users. This approach enabled the assembly to refine its strategies continually, learning from each project and incorporating those lessons into subsequent projects.
This iterative approach proved particularly effective given the complexity of modernising certain applications. As requirements evolved, the agile methodology facilitated the incorporation of new insights and feedback, enabling the assembly to better tailor systems to the needs of end-users.
Cloud Adoption and Successes
The assembly opted for Microsoft's cloud environment for its modernisation programme, in part because of the availability of data centres in Canada. The transition to the cloud has yielded significant benefits, including improved system accessibility, enhanced security, and more efficient system maintenance.
One of the most significant achievements has been the reduction of the assembly's systems portfolio from 57 to just over 20. The transition to cloud services has also facilitated the development of custom applications, such as a health screening app for building entry during the pandemic.
Conclusion: The Future of Digital Transformation at the Assembly
The assembly's digital transformation journey is ongoing. The focus has shifted towards continuous improvement, with regular system updates and feature additions. The move to cloud-based solutions, such as Microsoft OneDrive, has proved beneficial, and there is an appetite for further exploration of such technologies.
However, the transition to digital and cloud-based technologies is not just about operational efficiency or system modernisation. It also offers the opportunity to rethink the assembly's processes, encouraging innovation and new ways of working. As the assembly continues to evolve its digital strategy, it is clear that consistency, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning are key to successful digital transformation.