Six steps for scaling your GIS program

Maybe you’ve been reading our geospatial strategy blog posts and have been thinking: “My GIS team only has two people on it. I want to develop a geospatial strategy, but with such limited resources, where should I start?” You might be looking at a scaling issue. In this blog post, Esri Canada manager of management consulting Allen Williams discusses an approach that emerging GIS teams can use to grow sustainably.

Recently, I spoke to an Esri Canada customer at an event on the west coast. They’re part of a small GIS team at a medium-sized municipality and they’re well aware of the power of GIS, but with such a small team, eager to take the next step, they are grappling with the challenge of scaling. They want to be able to grow the size of their team and increase adoption of GIS across the organization, but a lot of the available advice out there is focused on running large GIS programs.

This isn’t a trivial issue. Scaling a small GIS program is a real challenge and can be complex. The needs, concerns and capabilities of a one- or two-person GIS team are as different from those of an enterprise-level program as night and day. Going from one to the other can’t happen overnight. Growth requires a careful and considered approach beyond just making additional maps and implementing new software. It’s about having a clear vision and goals, and a plan to achieve them.

I’ve put together this guide to give GIS teams like yours a resource for planning growth. Essentially, it’s about knowing where you’re starting out and having a realistic idea of where you want to end up, while recognizing the steps you’ll need to take in between to make that change stick.

First, understand your current state

It’s going to be really hard for you to give directions to a destination if you don’t know your starting point, so start by getting to know your current state.

To help you out, I’ve developed a model you can use to identify your GIS function archetype. We’ve talked about archetypes before on the Esri Canada blog; an archetype is just a recurring pattern. I’ve seen these patterns recur in my own work with customers looking to grow their GIS capability. You might find that your GIS team fits into more than one archetype. Don’t get too caught up in the details; just choose the one that is the closest fit. If you’re really stuck, that might mean you need to undertake a more comprehensive evaluation of your capabilities, or maybe you need an outside perspective on your current state. In any case, the below is a great starting point.

Once you’ve identified where you are, it’s time to focus on your plan to scale.

Steps for growing your GIS capability from small to enterprise

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to use a stepwise approach that balances quick wins and quick results with a longer-term plan. This proven approach will be more likely to lead to adoption, governance and executive buy-in.

I’ve based the list below on years of working with customers. These are just a few areas that you can consider focusing on as you evolve your GIS program. Often these overlap with one another, and the areas they cover (governance, training, process development etc.) will in time become continuous concerns for you as an emerging GIS leader. For this reason, rather than thinking of these strictly as steps, you might want to think of these as practices to adopt and cycle back to regularly—perhaps annually—as you continue to grow and scale your geospatial program.

Define a comprehensive GIS strategy

• Recognize and continue to reframe how GIS can create value for the organization
• Understand organizational goals and department priorities and align GIS objectives accordingly
• Establish principles and approaches for advancing geospatial technology, data and the workforce
• Communicate the strategic importance of GIS to stakeholders across the organization on a regular basis

Invest in technology and resources

• Assess current technology stack and identify gaps to meet new demand for services and solutions
• Invest in flexible and scalable GIS platforms and tools to support enterprise-level operations
• Recruit and train skilled professionals with diverse GIS expertise, including analysts, developers, solution architects and project managers

Develop robust processes and governance

• Standardize data collection, storage and analysis processes to ensure consistency and reliability
• Implement governance frameworks to manage data quality, security and compliance
• Foster collaboration and communication across departments to break down silos
• Develop geospatial standard operating procedures and guidelines

Secure long-term funding commitments

• Advocate for dedicated funding for GIS initiatives, emphasizing long-term value and return on investment
• Build business cases for funding requests, highlighting the strategic importance of GIS in achieving organizational objectives
• Establish partnerships with funding sources, both internal and external, to diversify financial support
• Track the value realized from investments in geospatial solutions over the long term

Prioritize continuous learning, training and development

• Provide ongoing training opportunities to keep GIS professionals updated on emerging technologies and best practices
• Encourage cross-training and knowledge sharing within the team to foster a culture of collaboration
• Invest in professional certifications and educational programs to enhance skillsets and career growth prospects
• Attend regional GIS events and webinars

Deliver results and demonstrate incredible value

• Deliver on your commitments and projects
• Regularly document and publish your GIS success stories
• Prototype new ideas and test them for results and potential benefits
• Communicate those successes to decision makers and the C-suite

A word of encouragement

Even as a small team, you can successfully scale your GIS program. I’ve seen dozens of customers do it. It’s key not to get overwhelmed, but to choose one or two items at a time to focus on rather than trying to do everything at once. You might find that in improving on one area, you’ve given yourself a head start in the others. If you use your geospatial strategy to remain focused, you’ll see huge payoffs in data quality, process efficiency and executive buy-in over time. And if you find that what you need is support, don’t be afraid to reach out directly—our team has decades of experience helping customers like you with exactly this.

Want to hear more of Allen’s tips and tricks on how to expand your GIS program? He’ll be speaking at the GIS Manager’s Summit on July 14, 2024, right before this year’s Esri User Conference in San Diego, California. See you there!

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