A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

IT Investment Management

ITA Principles Guidance

Principle 3

ED will use a structured investment management process to evaluate and approve investments in major information systems.

Rationale: A fully matured IT investment management program will ensure that the Department's information technology investments support ED business objectives, comply with the enterprise IT architecture, focus on the total costs of ownership, and provide reasonable returns on investment. Senior officers serving on the ITIRB will make decisions based on business cases, such as financial analyses and business case presentations. The ITIRB has decision-making responsibilities for major information technology projects throughout the Department. IT investments will be assessed for expected return on investment, as well as compliance with the IT Architecture. Better project selections will result, as well as improved decision making if a project deviates from cost, schedule, or performance goals. IT investments will return higher value.

Guidance: An enterprise IT investment management process is under development. Separate guidance will be provided when the process is complete. The IT Architecture will serve as a pivotal component of the process. IT projects will be evaluated for compliance with the IT architecture as part of the Department's selection of IT projects to fund.