Given city authorities’ requirements for transparency and effective use of taxpayers’ funds, one of the most important criteria for infrastructure spending – whether on roads or IT services – is the ability to demonstrate value for money and return on investment.
The Memphis Police Department in Tennessee experienced a sharp increase in crime in 2004 and 2005 and decided it needed a way to respond faster to crime as it happened. With the time-consuming process of searching through an array of spreadsheets and paper files, officers were spending several hours looking for information vital to solving or preventing crimes instead of responding faster. The MPD was eager to exploit new practices to predict, track, and respond promptly to crimes committed. Equally important, it sought a way to cost-efficiently upgrade its resources, use funds in the most effective way, and increase the overall effectiveness of the department.