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Wixom restart: $291M budget retained, sponsors stress staffing and change management after Longview tragedy
Summary
Wixom program sponsors told the Technology Services Board the restarted workers' compensation modernization is rebuilding governance and baselines, retains a $291 million tech budget, and faces staff hiring and cultural-change risks; presenters referenced the May 26 Longview workplace tragedy as an example of the program's stakes.
The Technology Services Board heard a progress briefing on the Wixom workers' compensation modernization program and an explanation of the restarted, incremental approach intended to rebuild program baselines and controls.
Executive co-sponsors Joel Sachs (Labor & Industries) and Bill Kehoe (Watech) described why the program matters and why a business-led, incremental approach is preferable to a big-bang replacement. Program director Shadia Yazbek framed the programs mission by connecting system improvements to frontline outcomes: "The tragedy in Longview on the morning of May 26 is a sobering reminder of what's at stake with this program. 11 workers died and at least another 7 were hospitalized with serious injuries in a workplace accident." She said Wixom will replace more than 100 systems and retain the previously approved tech budget of $291,000,000.
Oversight consultant Kathleen Glispie and program leads said the restart has produced methodical progress on governance, staffing, controls and reporting even while health indicators remain red because the program is still establishing baselines. The board and sponsors highlighted staffing as the highest risk (long hiring lead times for state IT positions) and asked for examples of successful process automations and change-management techniques; board members from other agencies offered to share resources and lessons learned.
Next steps: program to continue incremental implementation across 12 projects, finalize baselines and metrics that will measure program health, and seek board input on process automation priorities and governance refinements.
