Technology can be used to assist corporate management of election management bodies (EMBs). Many of the computer software products available in office automation suites can be used for corporate management purposes.
The types of corporate management processes that can benefit from the application of technology include:
internal planning processes, such as strategic planning and operational planning
project management
personnel management, including recruitment, maintaining staff records, and paying staff
financial management systems, including estimates and budgets, expenditure control, financial reporting and audit functions
supply and inventory management, including procurement, contract management, inventory control, warehousing/distribution control and transport control
computer systems monitoring and management
The various corporate management systems can ideally be linked together to provide a comprehensive election management system. Planning systems can be linked to project management systems to ensure that projects are in line with the relevant strategic and operational plans. Project management systems in turn impact on the personnel, finance and materials systems. The software systems used for supply and inventory management can be linked to relevant financial management systems to coordinate the estimating, budgeting and payment processes. These systems can in turn be linked to the personnel management system to provide an overarching system that encompasses all aspects of the election management process.
Systems linked in this way should ensure that the election process runs smoothly, with staff properly employed and equipped to perform their functions.
Various software products are available which can assist an EMB with its internal planning processes. Structured software programs can be used to facilitate higher level strategic planning, helping to set goals, aims and visions. Software can also be used for more practical operational planning, which can be more specific and more detailed, including setting tasks and performance indicators.
Software can also be used to enter tasks into calendars, allowing tasks to be scheduled, time lines to be set together with deadlines advance warning and information on meetings an critical dates to be automatically communicated to all relevant staff members.
