Guide for managers

Context

One of the prerequisites for natural resources management (NRM) involves the establishment and maintenance of a good database of information in digital format. Access to reliable and up-to-date information reduces the uncertainty in planning and management by helping identify and analyse situations and issues. Strategies to overcome them may then be prepared and implemented, with the impacts monitored as part of an overall system. The value of the information and the effectiveness of the decision-making/planning processes are very closely related to the quality and completeness of the information and the manner in which it is made available. In this respect data access, management, integration, analysis, standards, and communication are key components.

Under current arrangements, funding for NRM projects is increasingly being channelled from government agencies to regional groups, such as catchment management authorities and resource information centres.

In many situations regional groups are faced with the need to engage the services of a consultant to undertake to provide specific services including guidance, recommendations and data capture, processing or analysis.

It is acknowledged that each State and Territory jurisdiction may have its own initiatives related to data collection and information management including governance guidelines and protocols related to the implementation of natural resource management projects within their jurisdictions. In some cases this may include a list recommended consulting firms. This guideline focuses on selecting a spatial information system consulting firm and provides general material to assist regional groups in the selection of consulting firms.

Actions

In many cases regional projects may need access to consulting firms to provide guidance, recommendations or undertake specific software development or data analysis tasks.

Managers should be aware that best practice guidelines are available to assist in determining when a consulting firm is required and what to look for when choosing a consultant.

Acknowledgments

This module draws heavily on a two-part article by Marshall Payne published on the Directions Magazine web site ― Part 1: How Do You Know When You Need One? and Part 2: What to Watch Out For by Marshall Payne. This source is duly acknowledged.