به سوی بهترین شیوه برای مدیریت فناوری اطلاعات استراتژیک

Federal agencies are under pressure to do more with less—to improve the services they provide to the public, with greater accountability for achieving results, more quickly and at lower cost. In a 1994 study of leading organizations, the General Accounting Office (GAO) identified 11 strategic information management (SIM) practices, which became the foundation of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. In 1997, the Federal Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council and the Industry Advisory Council prepared 20 case studies demonstrating the use of information technology to achieve a positive return on investment within the federal government. Focusing on these 20 case studies, this research first looked for evidence that supported or refuted each of GAO’s SIM practices. Second, the research looked for best practices that may be unique to a federal environment. Third, the study identified other best practices. This article presents findings on research conducted to assess the applicability and utility of the set of practices for strategic information technology management that underlie the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. It also identifies additional information technology management practices that have demonstrated positive results in the federal government. Key practices identified by the research include the following: • Use performance measures as a proxy for return on investment; • Take advantage of leading (but not bleeding) edge technology; and • Make use of proven project management techniques. The General Accounting Office (GAO) identified strategic information management (SIM) practices in a document entitled Executive Guide: Improving Mission Performance through Strategic Information Management and Technology: Learning from Leading Organizations. 1 The SIM practices are contained in a number of statutes. Collectively, these legislative provisions are designed to make significant changes in how federal agencies plan, manage, and acquire information technology as part of their overall information resources management responsibilities. The Clinger-Cohen Act (P.L. 104–106) has the most direct impact on the management and use of information technology and is the legislation that draws directly from the principles embodied in the SIM practices.

Research on best practices should continue as part of an ongoing learning process. GAO identified best practices for strategic information technology management; this study identified additional practices; undoubtedly other practices are relevant and helpful to strategic information technology management. The search for excellence should a continual learning and sharing exercise, one that expands to include new concepts and practices and that revisits existing ones to refine and adjust them to changing environments.