Why do we need a GEA?
The Smart Directions Statement for Information and Communications Technology within the Queensland Government (PDF, 580 kB) promotes the Queensland Government as a single enterprise. To effectively support the operations of this single enterprise requires that ICT investments be aligned, economies of scale be achieved, and interoperability between agencies be enhanced.
The need for interoperability across agencies has become more apparent in recent years with the establishment of a number of multi-agency or whole of government initiatives including Access Queensland, the Integrated Justice Information System, the Shared Services Initiative, and Information Queensland.
The GEA will support ICT decision making across the Queensland Government to improve alignment between agencies providing a better foundation for cross-agency initiatives.
What would happen if we did not have a GEA?
Achieving interoperability between agencies would consume an inordinate amount of resources endeavouring to overcome arbitrary technological differences between agency systems and infrastructures.
How was the GEA derived?
The GEA is an evolution of the Government Information Architecture (GIA). The GEA expands the scope of the GIA to also include the business layer, and shifts the emphasis from information standards to a broader range of artefacts. The GEA framework itself was developed by considering the shortcomings of the GIA and the broader role the GEA would need to play.
The GEA classification models were developed individually by incorporating best practice from industry with earlier agency-specific models.
What does the GEA mean for Queensland Government agencies?
The GEA will become a comprehensive resource for ICT investment and implementation guidance across the Queensland Government. The different artefacts within the GEA will have different implications for agencies.
Information Standards will retain their current authority as derived from the Financial Management Standard 1977.
Domain Specifications and Domain Targets will establish targets that agency ICT can be measured against.
So, will the GEA drive the operations of Queensland Government agencies?
To a degree. The GEA is based on a federated model. A 'federated' approach has been adopted, focusing on cross-agency systems or those agency systems that have cross-agency implications, or where consistency across agencies can lead to economies of scale.
For example, the GEA cross-agency technology architecture could include the network, a common middleware infrastructure, and common messaging protocols. Information sharing policies, security standards, and infrastructure/privacy policies would also be included in the GEA. Agency local architecture components could include application development environment, and agency-specific business and administrative applications.
Are all Queensland Government agencies covered by/bound by the GEA?
No, but there are obligations relating to two particular types of artefact.
Agencies are still required to implement the mandatory principles of the Information Standards subject to a risk assessment.
Agencies need to report alignment with GEA targets to the Strategic Information and ICT Council Executive.
The authority for the implementation of the GEA and its associated policies, positions and targets, is derived from Sections 56(2) and 22(2) of the Financial Management Standard 1997 (FMS).
How does the GEA relate to Information Standards?
The Information Standards are one of the primary outputs of the GEA. The standards incorporate the rules and recommended practice with regard to the management of Queensland Government information resources. The Information Standards gain their authority through the Financial Management Standard 1997.
Information Standards support one or more of the domains of the GEA. For example, Information Standard 39 qld.gov.au Domain Name Eligibility supports the Network Name and Address Services domain, whilst Information Standard 18 Information Security supports all domains of the GEA.
Will the GEA change over time?
Yes. In the short term, QGCIO plans to populate the GEA with more domain artefacts.
How often will the GEA be reviewed?
The GEA will be reviewed yearly. However, as mentioned above, as the GEA becomes further populated with domain artefacts a revision of the structure may be necessary.
To what elements of Queensland Government agency planning does the GEA relate?
The GEA provides a reference point against which agencies can determine compatibility with Queensland Government information and communication technology directions and requirements. So, the GEA can assist agencies in the selection of potential solutions (systems or technologies), by defining principles which should underpin potential solutions (e.g. flexible, open, modular etc), through to specific protocols or technologies which should be supported by products or systems being acquired or developed.
Are any elements of the GEA more important than others?
Not necessarily. Each of the elements of the GEA Framework, and the artefacts themselves, contribute to the development of an overall environment and approach to the management of information resources. However, it is fair to say that by their nature, the impact of specific information standards may vary across Government e.g. Information Privacy vs. qld.gov.au Domain Name Eligibility.
How do we know if the GEA is effective?
A difficult one. However, the Information Standards and the Domain Targets are probably the most obvious test to determine the GEA's effectiveness. These should start to form a cohesive and more complete set of rules and practices for Queensland Government within the domain structure.
Who has responsibility for the GEA?
The Queensland Government Chief Information Office (QGCIO) has responsibility for managing and developing the GEA on behalf of Queensland Government. However, the GEA's future development will draw heavily on the experience, knowledge and support of all Queensland Government agencies, with particular input from forums including the Strategic Information and ICT Board.
Should there be officers responsible for/aware of the GEA in my Queensland Government agency?
Yes. Ideally, all officers with some responsibility for managing ICT resources should be aware of the GEA. However, CIOs, members of the Strategic Information and ICT Council, and Information Standards Officers should be able to raise awareness of the GEA.
Do other Governments have a GEA?
Many other Governments have adopted an architectural framework to structure and collate their ICT body of knowledge. A number of such frameworks however are coupled with a particular architectural methodology. The GEA is independent of any methodology, it is simply a repository of ICT guidance and decisions.
What does the GEA mean for industry?
The GEA will build a more consistent interface between industry and Queensland Government agencies with regard to ICT. Additionally, as the GEA is further developed, in particular as more Information Standards and Domain Targets are produced as a result of various whole-of-Government and agency initiatives underway, industry will be able to more easily target solutions which match Queensland Government's technology requirements.
Is there a complete list of QGEA compliance and reporting requirements available?
Yes. The QGEA 2.0 compliance and reporting requirements spreadsheet (XLS, 201 kB) details these requirements and allows agencies to create specialised views of compliance requirements (e.g. by compliance target date, artefact or domain).