ICT Automation
Under the title of promotion for technological development and within the framework of organization and modernization, the Ministry of Economy and Trade has launched an automation campaign aiming to increase productivity and effectiveness in a transparent public sector. This motion was inspired by similar international developments towards citizens’ services in lesser time and best efficiency possible.
The IT Unit planned a full automation for the ministry’s departments, under the basic principle of improving performance of the ministry operations by clearly defining objectives and performance reviews towards the desired goals; and best usage of resources for better results.
The methodology utilized is to re-engineer work processes taking simplification and organization as guide lines. Human resources training on new techniques is an ongoing activity at the ministry along with building the ministry systems and data bases, this should facilitate citizens services in an effective and prompt fashion.
The following are automation success stories at the ministry:
1. Interconnection of ministry regional offices to the main offices in Beirut, facilitating prompt and effective follow up of citizens’ complaints.
2. Upgrade and develop a new web site to include broader services and information material. The new website is based on Microsoft content management server, where publishing responsibilities is well organized among ministry personnel, each in his own responsibility and capacity.
3. Implement a document management system covering all administrative paper work flow. The system is well implemented covering all internal paper circulation in preparation for future paper less operation across government entities.
4. The injection of technology and its proper integration with ministry operations along with the non stop human resources training have developed the ministry working force to professional technology users.
5. The IT Unit acquired the leader responsibility for human resources training development at the ministry.
6. Among other implementation scores, the employees access and attendance control system was concluded to include vacations and missions’ details, proper administrative and technical training accompanied the system successful implementation.
7. As a practical and professional support for intellectual property rights enforcement in Lebanon the IT Unit in collaboration with WIPO implemented an internet work flow program at the ministry. The application reflects prompt citizen's services and the web enabled search engine along with regional offices connection revealed a new dimension of digital collaboration for IPR activities.
8. In support for consumer protection operation; the IT Unit acquired Microsoft .Net technology for this critical mission. The application integrates all controllers' field activities and stream line all administrative tasks from complaint to result. The integration of the ministry's call center with the consumer protection operations was concluded with accurate follow up. The IT Unit is working closely with the consumer protection department towards future plans to implement a GIS / GPRS system adding more accuracy and promptness to field operations.
9. As Part of the Ministry’s effort to automate data collection by utilizing the proper Information Technology platform, the IT unit reengineered the Technical Office for Prices data collection cycle. The new application permits big Supermarkets to submit their items’ prices via Internet, where the new system automatically captures the data and produces the proper consumer basket reports.
10. The IT unit has designed a Consolidation and Integration plan for the Ministry’s Information. Today by utilizing Microsoft Active Directory services, the Ministry’s employees started sharing data and Network resources. The data is packaged safely and discretely, backed up with proper back up and data recovery procedures. This high tech setup facilitated proper applications integration among Ministry’s departments and offices, like sharing Boycott Office data base.
11. After the decision to create a Library for the Ministry to host all professional economic and technical publications, the IT unit with the direct guidance and support of the Director General implemented a library system. Based on International coding, all Books Reports and Papers are now labeled. A small description of library items is fed into the system along with a scanned Introduction of each. The Library Web application manages circulation and cataloging. We encourage economists to search online our Library, reserves and borrow economic publications as needed.
12. As the Ministry of Economy and Trade is a main collaborator in the Inter-Ministerial ICT Committee, the IT unit participates in the overall management and guidance of the Lebanese ICT sector. As well as part of the Ministry’s direct partnership with the private sector, the IT unit coordinate and manage ICT related economic development with the sector through incentive and promotional agreements and protocols for this purpose. As well as a natural expansion of the Ministry’s regional and International economic development plans and partnerships, the IT unit coordinates ICT development components ensuring proper guidance, cooperation and benchmarking with EUMEDIS, EU, WSIS, UNDP and the World Bank. The IT unit represents the Ministry in the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) committee, and acts as a main coordinator between public and private sectors along with utilizing the Ministry capacity in promoting and managing local, regional and International ICT exhibitions.
13. The IT unit coordinates the use of ICT as an economic development tool, with ongoing projects at the Ministry. This is well reflected along the SMEs development project with proper ICT infrastructure and incentives. As well along the Quality project where the proper use of ICT tools and services shall facilitate quality management and traceability of agro-food industry.