NASCIO outlines IT management practices

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has published a research brief summarizing four proven information technology management frameworks that state governments can adapt.

“A good framework for managing [IT] can deliver huge dividends through effective planning, competent risk management and strict accountability for meeting goals and performance expectations,” said Steve Schafer, administrator of the financial solutions section of Nebraska’s newly combined IT organizations. He is also chairman of NASCIO's IT Governance and Service Reform Committee.

More often, state CIOs are required to manage their costs and justify their IT investments, according to the brief. The four frameworks profiled include:

• North Carolina Framework for Managing IT Investments One, which provides a systemic and comprehensive view of the full IT investment lifecycle and an overview of individual phases, with major objectives and activities of each.

• Government Accountability Office IT Investment Management Framework, which is composed of five progressive stages of maturity that an agency can achieve in its IT investment management capabilities.

• The IT Infrastructure Library’s service management framework, developed by the British government, enables organizations to deliver high-quality IT services based on specific customer needs.

• The Federal Business Reference Model, which is the foundation of the federal enterprise architecture, identifies opportunities to simplify processes.

“The four management models provide a foundation for successful business practices and management of resources,” Schafer said in a press release. “States can choose a model that best fits their organizational needs.”