Through tape matching and access to databases we were able to track down absent dads to cease their assets and give them to the moms. Computers generated ways, I think, and changed the landscape for child support enforcement. Also, it was invaluable in educating me about the power of these systems. Yes, I think so. Although, I think that the problem we have, in government generally, is that every city buys lots of gadgets.
Most big cities have all sorts of computer tools.
What we don't do very well is have persons whose job it is to find applied technologies because that requires a combination of understanding information tools and work processes. We're fortunate to have had some retired company information executives help us figure out our system and basically determine how all the archaic approaches to purchasing, inventory, human resources can be gathered. As mayor, I think we often miss an opportunity to improve productivity through more applied uses of technology. It's typical of what we've read in the past. People computerize archaic systems and then think they're sophisticated when they ought to use the computerization and the computer implementation as an opportunity to reengineer the whole process.