Former Arkansas CTO offers private sector perspectives

After spending eight years as Arkansas’ chief technology officer, Claire Bailey said working in the private sector as Compuware’s director of federal, state and local solutions has given her new perspective about her former post.

“I think I realize how much more research I would have liked to have done, particularly when it comes to leveraging assets that you have and how to modernize those for the future,” Bailey told StateScoop at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ annual conference in October. “There’s so much intellectual property out there, and so few tax dollars to work with, yet the citizens demand that online delivery of service.”

Bailey said the key questions governments have to answer are “Why go into a government building to pay them money?” and “What can I do with a mobile platform?”

From her new vantage point in the private sector, Bailey said she’s gained a new appreciation for the value of the collaboration between vendors and the public sector to help achieve some of those goals.

“I realize how important it is to establish the good communication process and work together to find the best solutions for the state, for your city or your county, and for the nation,” Bailey said.