Firefighters who need to swap shifts are happier when scheduling systems are easy-to-use and give them a high degree of flexibility and control. Departmental leaders need to balance this desire for control with assurances that all trades are carried out within policies and guidelines.

With access to better data and more advanced analysis, police departments around the country are engaging in predictive policing. These systems allow agencies to detect patterns in crime and use their resources more effectively, but departments must be prepared to maximize their effects.