Thanks to our extensive expertise and certifications in Drupal, ParallelDevs was selected through the official government procurement process via SICOP (Sistema Integrado de Compras Públicas) to provide ongoing development and support services for the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica (MCJ). From the very start, our team focused on adding value by aligning technical solutions with the Ministry’s mission and institutional workflows.
The Challenge
The Ministry's main website plays a vital role as an information hub for Costa Rica's cultural programs and events. As such, the platform required:
- Ongoing technical maintenance and updates for their Drupal-based platform
- Design and development of new features to support evolving institutional goals
- Editorial workflows to support distributed content ownership across departments
- Seamless integration with related initiatives like Ride Cultural and the Festival Internacional de las Artes
- Clear, consistent communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- To ensure continued alignment between their digital platforms and cultural mission, the Ministry sought a partner capable of bridging technical expertise with institutional understanding.
Our Approach
Understanding the Ministry’s need for a long-term, renewable partnership, we focused on building a sustainable support model from the outset:
- Establish a dedicated team familiar with the Ministry's goals and technical infrastructure
- Implement both preventive and corrective maintenance processes for the Drupal platform
- Create clear communication channels between technical specialists and Ministry stakeholders
- Develop a thorough understanding of the various departments' needs and workflows
- Build documentation and knowledge transfer processes to ensure continuity
- Design project management approaches tailored to the structure and rhythm of government institutions
The Solution
We established a robust partnership that strengthened the Ministry’s ability to manage its digital presence effectively and sustainably:
Comprehensive Maintenance Program
We implemented both preventive and corrective maintenance procedures for the Ministry's Drupal website, ensuring stability, security, and optimal performance. This proactive approach helps identify and address potential issues before they impact users.
Effective Technical Liaison
Our team serves as the bridge between technical requirements and institutional stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable information for Ministry decision-makers. This liaison role helps ensure that technical solutions align with institutional goals.
Multi-Role Content Management
We maintain and enhance the Drupal-based permission system that allows different departments and roles within the Ministry to manage their specific content areas independently while maintaining a cohesive overall presentation.
Integrated Digital Ecosystem
We ensure smooth integration between the main Ministry website and other digital initiatives like Ride Cultural and the Festival Internacional de Las Artes (FIA), creating a cohesive digital ecosystem for Costa Rica's cultural programming.
Results and Impact
Our ongoing partnership has delivered significant benefits:
- Improved website stability and performance through proactive maintenance
- Reduced communication friction between technical teams and Ministry departments
- Enhanced ability for various stakeholders to manage their own content areas
- Streamlined processes for website updates and new feature implementation
- Better coordination between related digital platforms and initiatives
- Increased technical knowledge within the Ministry through clear communication and training
Client Perspective
The Ministry values the preventive and corrective maintenance services we provide for their website. Our partnership has established us as a trusted advisor who understands both the technical landscape and the unique needs of a government cultural institution.
Looking Forward
This partnership demonstrates how a strong technical collaboration can enhance a government institution's digital presence. By serving as both technical experts and communicators, we've helped the Ministry navigate the complexities of digital transformation while maintaining focus on its cultural mission.
The lessons learned from this partnership continue to inform our approach to government-institution collaborations:
- Establish clear communication protocols between technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Develop both preventive and responsive support systems
- Build deep institutional knowledge to provide context-aware solutions
- Create flexible content management approaches for diverse departmental needs
- Maintain a long-term perspective focused on partnership rather than transactions
Today, the Ministry of Culture and Youth operates a stable, efficient digital platform that continues to evolve through a strategic partnership grounded in shared goals and mutual understanding—proving that effective digital government requires both technical expertise and strong communication.