Each project and each client is different. We understand that and do not try to do a "one-size-fits-all" planning process. Each organization presents different opportunities and constraints to evaluating and planning for acquisition or upgrade of GIS capabilities. That said, there is at least one common thread that runs through each of the numerous GIS implementations in which we have participated over the years--incrementalism. In our experience, no one implements a fully-functional GIS out of the box. Below are our more detailed thoughts on these issues.

PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH
Successful GIS implementation is a blend of thinking ahead and on-the-fly experimentation. In the Fall 1997 issue of the "AZesRI Newsletter", Howard Ward wrote an article explaining the relationship between these two approaches to GIS implementation.

At TerraSystems, we have come to appreciate the interplay between on-the-spot implementation of GIS and more deliberate, well-thought out strategic planning efforts. Both approaches play an important role in the migration from paper-based processes to more efficient and effective automated technology. We developed the GIS pyramid in our work with the City of Tucson Water Department.

PROJECT EXAMPLES
In 1999, we spent several months with City of Tucson Water Department staff developing a GIS Strategic Plan for enterprise-wide acquisition and deployment of GIS resources. The link below takes you to an extensive set of web pages which we used to help document, organize and analyze the vast amount of information we collected.