The Case
Welcome to the City of Northwood. You’ve just been hired as the new Asset Information Manager for the Northwood Water Utility, and your first week is proving to be a baptism by fire. For years, the utility has been investing in technology—SCADA systems for real-time operations, GIS for mapping the vast network of pipes, and a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for tracking work orders. The problem? None of these systems talk to each other.
Data is everywhere, but information is nowhere to be found. An asset like "Pump Station 7" might be "PS-07" in the CMMS, "P_Station_Seven" in finance, and a completely different identifier in the GIS. This data chaos just came to a head. A recent internal audit flagged the utility's poor data practices as a significant operational and financial risk. The auditors couldn't reconcile maintenance costs with specific assets, and they questioned the utility's ability to make sound, long-term investment decisions.
The City Manager is not pleased. She has made it clear that "doing things the way we've always done them" is no longer an option. She needs a coherent strategy to turn this sea of disconnected data into a strategic asset that can drive decisions, improve efficiency, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Northwood's water infrastructure. This is your challenge.
Resources and Evidence
You have a collection of documents and data to help you understand the full scope of the problem. Review them carefully as you prepare your strategic proposal.
Key Document: MEMORANDUM: Urgent Action Required on Audit Findings
Table 1: Asset Data Discrepancy Sample
| Asset ID CMMS | Asset Name GIS | Financial System Code | Install Date SCADA | Install Date CMMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMP-101 | Pump Station 12 Main | NWU-45-P101 | 2015-06-15 | 2015-07-01 |
| VLV-205A | Main St Isolation Valve | NWU-VLV-205 | None | 2012-09-22 |
| HYD-55-B | Hydrant 14 Oak Ave | None | None | 2018-05-10 |
| PMP-102 | None | NWU-45-P102 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-07-02 |
| VLV-301-MAIN | Elm Street Bypass | NW-V-301M | 2019-11-20 | 2019-11-19 |
| PMP-201-BOOST | Booster Pump #4 - North Tower | NWU-BST-P201 | 2021-03-10 | None |
| HYD-102C | Corner of Elm & Oak | NWU-HYD-102C | None | 2010-08-01 |
| VLV-404 | None | NWU-VLV-404 | 2014-02-28 | 2014-03-01 |
| PMP-103 | PS-12 Backup Pump | NWU-45-P103 | 2017-09-05 | 2017-10-01 |
| HYD-B44 | Hydrant - Pine Ln cul-de-sac | None | None | 2009-06-12 |
📊 View Diagram: City of Northwood: 5-Year Strategic Objectives
Your Task
As the new Asset Information Manager, your task is to develop a formal proposal for the City Manager that outlines your Asset Information Strategy. This document should be clear, professional, and persuasive. It must address the critical issues raised in the audit and provide a clear path forward for the Northwood Water Utility.
Your proposal must contain the following sections: 1. Executive Summary: A brief, high-level overview of the problem, the proposed solution, and the expected benefits. 2. Strategic Alignment: A clear explanation of how your proposed information strategy directly supports the City of Northwood's 5-Year Strategic Objectives. 3. Proposed Data Governance Framework: A detailed section describing the people, processes, and standards required. This should include proposed roles and responsibilities (e.g., data stewards, a governance committee), processes for data quality management, and standards for asset naming and data entry. 4. Implementation Roadmap: A high-level, phased plan for rolling out the strategy. This should identify key milestones, priorities, and a realistic timeline for the first 12-18 months.
Submit Your Work
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Next Steps
Congratulations on completing the Northwood Water Utility case study. You have tackled a complex, real-world problem in asset management. Please ensure you have uploaded your final proposal for evaluation.
Once you have submitted your work, you can navigate back to the course home to continue your learning journey.
