AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2004 Awards: State IT Management Initiatives

RECIPIENT: Tennessee
Information Systems Planning Process -- Strong, Dynamic, and Inclusive

Gladys Wolfe

The State of Tennessee has developed a comprehensive technology planning process to enhance project initiation, review, approval, procurement, and successful implementation. The process, which is tied to strategic and budget planning efforts, is both cyclical and continual, thereby enabling the state to utilize planning as a process for action as opposed to a project that ends with a document to be placed on a shelf. Stakeholders are representatives from all three branches of government and include senior agency leaders, elected officials, and IT leaders.

Tennessee began the planning process in 1981, and for over 20 years it has served as the catalyst for major efforts. Its success stems from tremendous buy-in from the Information Systems Council (the governing oversight authority for state technology), program leaders from all three branches of government, and senior IT leaders in state government. The state uses a yearly cycle, which begins with an executive management kick-off meeting in March and ends in December when the Governor’s budget document is completed. A comprehensive and dynamic intranet website provides guidance to all users with links to guidelines and methodology.

The State’s Technical Architecture is a key ingredient in the planning process. Based on NASCIO’s Enterprise Architecture Development Tool-Kit, each domain is reviewed thoroughly, at least on a biennial basis. A team of subject matter experts from agency IT organizations and OIR determines gaps in the architecture as well as products and technologies that should be identified for phase-out or obsolescence.

“Information technology planning in Tennessee is not a destination, it is a journey. It has enabled us to take an enterprise view of IT deployment to enable state services and it has been the impetus behind unique funding mechanisms that have ensured the ongoing availability of technology in austere budget times. I cannot imagine operating in an environment without this type of structured planning process.”
Bill Ezell, Chief Information Officer, State of Tennessee Tennessee continues to reap the benefits of its strong planning process. Improvements within agencies include development of projects with a strong emphasis on a positive return on investment through improved service delivery and/or reduced costs or increased revenues. Individual projects are also now more clearly defined due to the standardization of a comprehensive format.

The statewide review of projects enhances the ability of the administration to prioritize projects and direct IT resources in order to achieve stated objectives. An enterprise-wide view is obtained so that initiatives are seen as state initiatives rather than individual agency initiatives. Resource maximization can take place through this view of similar, cooperative projects. Efforts can be more coordinated across agencies. Conformance of information technology initiatives to statewide architectural standards and direction is more readily encouraged and achieved.

RUNNER UP:
Kentucky Enterprise Project Management Initiative

NOMINATIONS:
Click on the link to download program submission.

Colorado e-Government

Florida Enterprise Business Continuity Planning

Idaho Idaho I Plan (Geospatial Technology)

Missouri Missouri Project Oversight Program

Nevada INTEROPERABILITY

New Jersey Contacts for Contracts

Wisconsin Extended Enterprise, Borderless Government

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