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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government
| VolumeV, Issue 2 | February 2002 |
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On January 7, 2002, the Information Services Policy Board (ISPB) adopted the final report for Phase I of the Strategic Information Technology (IT) planning project. The report identifies the IT vision, supporting strategies, and guiding principles to meet the State’s current business needs and to support long-term strategies towards maintaining a common IT technical architecture for State Government. The Office of the CIO, in partnership with Gartner Consulting, received a high level of support from representatives throughout State Government to capture both the Business and IT perspectives. The result was the development of a comprehensive and integrated Strategic IT Plan for the Executive Branch of Maine State Government. It includes an IT architecture developed using a process that broke down each architecture component into a series of discrete elements, or "bricks." In this process, each technology element is analyzed based on industry status and outlook. The plan incorporates a roadmap for maintaining the IT architecture to ensure both interoperability and integration between existing systems and emerging trends, while linking to the State’s business strategies. New technologies will be introduced and aging technologies will be retired, based on industry direction and the State’s business needs.
In addition to the State IT vision and strategies, the final report also recommends specific endeavors, programs and projects. An endeavor coordinates a variety of programs and projects to create a new enterprise. Endeavors are aligned to meet the citizens’ needs in a timely, effective, and efficient manner. An Endeavor can last for many years and requires involvement from all State agencies to ensure success.
Programs are used to deliver a strategic business change. Programs identify, prioritize and link initiatives, many of which will be projects. The management focus is on efficiently attaining statewide benefits from a new strategy. A program also provides the right environment for a change to happen, particularly in terms of attitudes and behavior. The nature of a program means longer time frames. Projects are generally agency specific and are used when a specific outcome is required in a set time frame. Projects have clear and easily defined benefits and return on investment (ROI), and focus on minimizing risk and cost.
Phase II of the Planning Project, also nearing completion, is focused on IT expenditure management. It will conclude with a final report that reviews the current IT cost tracking mechanisms employed by the State and an analysis to identify gaps between those mechanisms and best practice models. Gartner’s experience, knowledge, objectivity and research capabilities continue to take a significant role in addressing all the key elements of the strategic IT plan.
The Phase I final report is available online from the CIO web site at http://www.maine.gov/cio/ITstrat_plan.
