Slim GIM Project

GeoAdmin: An Assessment of the Slim GIM Capability Maturity Model across South Carolina

There are a number of management and maturity models available for use within the GIS industry.  These models are a method of self-assessment, allowing an organization to identify where it is strong, where it is weak, and where it has the greatest potential for growth. Unfortunately, there has never been a comprehensive study of one of these models across a wide range of GIS organizations.  This project has been a longitudinal study of a particular type of model, the Slim GIM Capability Maturity Model, and has assessed its efficacy across a number of public and private jurisdictions throughout the state of South Carolina.  Guidance for the project was created by utilizing feedback from GAA-SC members via a series of conference calls discussing each metric within the model.  Assessments were obtained from seven participants and then analyzed. The results indicated that most jurisdictions have a very firm grasp on the foundational technologies of GIS, but struggle with numerous structural issues associated with their departments (particularly those over which they do not have primary authority). This project has resulted in a number of positive developments, including the provision of feedback by the GAA-SC to help in the revision and evolution of the Slim GIM model over time as well as the increased usage of this model in annual assessments.

What is provided here are the results from the project as well as the revised guidance created by the GAA-SC membership to assist other organizations in assessing itself utilizing this model.