Citizens Information Systems Advisory Committee Meeting Report: October 22

On Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Information Systems Advisory Committee (“Committee”) held a meeting to receive updates.  To view the complete agenda, click here.

The inaugural Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman William Corry, with the following Committee members in attendance:

• Allan Katz, Citizens Board Member
• Jim Harty, Systems Manager, American Guaranty Fund Group, Inc.
• Dr. David Paradice, Chairman MIS, Florida State University School of Business
• Nancy Sampson, Director MIS, Florida Department of Financial Services, Insurance Rehabilitation/Liquidation
• Curt Overpeck, Senior Vice President of Systems, Citizens (non-voting member)

Mr. Overpeck detailed primary Committee responsibilities.  To view Committee responsibilities, click here.

The Core Insurance System Strategy (“Strategy”) provided by Citizens’ consultant, Gartner, Inc., was reviewed.  To view a copy of the Strategy, click here.

In March 2008, the consulting firm Gartner, Inc. was contracted to provide an assessment and recommendation on Citizens’ information technology system.  Key recommendations given by Gartner include:

• Citizens should continue its pursuit of implementing off-the-shelf software for its claims and personal policy software systems, as opposed to continuing in-house development
• Citizens should reorganize the claims management system as a joint claims management and policy administration system
• Citizens should initiate program governance to clearly define the decision-making process

Gartner recommends the following steps be taken in strategy implementation:

• Engage in a services contract to proceed with the analysis and system requirements specification once the Committee has defined and prioritized the main areas of focus
• Initiate program governance
• Define a program charter and plan including detailed activities and stakeholder involvement for the vendor selection process
• Develop and release a formal request for information (“RFI”) for core insurance system requirements in First Quarter 2009
• Issue a request for formal proposal (“RFP”) based on RFI results

Mr. Katz expressed concern and frustration that the process of software development is taking too long. He repeatedly asked why the software selection process has taken two years to implement.  Lengthy discussion about the need for such a conservative software selection plan followed.

Committee members voted to move forward with the strategy implementation as proposed by Gartner.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Colodny Fass.

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