Which approach is best for leveraging GIS in an enterprise environment?

Leveraging GIS effectively in an enterprise environment often means maximizing accessibility, collaboration, and the ability to analyze geospatial data across different departments and teams. Serving geospatial data as map services and web maps embodies this concept as it provides a dynamic and interactive way for users to access and utilize geospatial information.

This approach allows for real-time updates, sharing of maps and data across various platforms, and enhanced user interactions through web interfaces. By offering geospatial data in a service-oriented manner, organizations can ensure that multiple users have access to the same data sets simultaneously, promoting collaboration and reducing the risk of version control issues that can arise with static files like shapefiles.

In contrast, relying on write-protected shapefiles on individual workstations limits access and collaboration across the organization, whereas centralizing data in geodatabases can be beneficial for data management but may still lack the interactive aspects and ease of access offered by map services and web maps. A well-staffed GIS department is important for operational support and project execution but does not inherently address the need for widespread accessibility and user engagement with geospatial data.

Thus, serving geospatial data as map services and web maps is the most effective method for fostering a collaborative, flexible, and dynamic GIS