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Federal Bureau of Investigation's Management of Information Technology Investments

Report No. 03-09
December 2002
Office of the Inspector General


Fundamental Phases of the IT Investment Approach
Select Phase Control Phase Evaluate Phase
  • Screen
  • Rank
  • Select
  • Monitor progress
  • Take corrective actions
  • Conduct reviews
  • Make adjustments
  • Apply lessons learned
Question: How do you know you have selected the best projects? Question: How are you ensuring that projects deliver benefits? Question: Are the systems delivering what you expectd?
Source: GAO

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Five Maturity Stages of the ITIM Framework
Enterprise and Strategic Focus
graphic of an arrow pointing up from Project-centric to Enterprise and Strategic Focus
Project-Centric
Maturity Stages Description
Stage 5
Leveraging IT for
Strategic Outcomes
Investment benchmarking and IT-enabled change management techniques are deployed to strategically shape business coutcomes.
Stage 4
Improving the
Investment Process
Process evaluation techniques focus on improving the performance and management of the organization's IT investment portifolio.
Stage 3
Developing a Complete
Investment Portfolion
Comprehensive IT investment portfolion selection and control techniques are in place that incorporate benefit and risk criteria linked to mission goals and strategies.
Stage 2
Building the
Investment Foundation
Repeatable investment control techniques are in place and the key foundation capabilities have been implemented.
Stage 1
Creating Investment
Awareness
There is little awareness of investment management techniques. IT management processes are ad hoc, project-centric, and have widely variable outcomes.
Source:  GAO

 

The ITIM Framework’s Stages of Maturity with Critical Processes
Maturity Stages Critical Processes
Stage 5
Leveraging IT for
Strategic Outcomes
  • Investment Process Benchmarking
  • IT-Driven Strategic Business Change
Stage 4
Improving the
Investment Process
  • Post-Implementation Reviews and Feedback
  • Portfolio Performance Evaluation and Improvement
  • Systems and Technology Succession Management
Stage 3
Developing a Complete
Investment Portfolion
  • Authority Alignment of IT Investment Boards
  • Portfolio Selection Criteria Definition
  • Investment Analysis
  • Portfolio Development
  • Portfolio Performance Oversight
Stage 2
Building the
Investment Foundation
  • IT Investment Board Operation
  • IT Project Oversight
  • IT Asset Tracking
  • Business Needs Identification for IT Projects
  • Proposal Selection
Stage 1
Creating Investment
Awareness
IT Spending without Disciplines Investment Processes
Source:  GAO

 

Components of an ITIM Critical Process
 
Purpose
This is the primary reason for engaging in the critical process and states the desired outcome for the critical process.
 
Graphic of an arrow pointing up from Prerequisites to Activities
Prerequisites
These are the conditions that must exist within an organization to successfully implement a critical process. This core element typically involves allocating resources, establishing organizational structures, and providing training.
Graphic of an arrow pointing up from Prerequisites to Activities
Activities
These are the key practices necessary to implement a critical process. An activity occurs over time and has recognizable results. Key practices within this core element typically involve establishing procedures, performing and tracking the work, and taking corrective actions as necessary.
Graphic of an arrow pointing up from Activities to Evidence of Performance
Evidence of
Performance

These are artifacts, documents, or other evidence that support a contention that the key practices within a critical process have or are being implemented. This core element typically consists of the collection and verification of physical, documentary, or testimonial evidence and typically involves reviews by objective parties.
Graphic of an arrow pointing up from Organizational Commitment to Activities
 
Organizational Commitment
These are management actions that ensure that the critical process is established an will endure. Key practices within this core element typically involve establishing organization policies and engaging senior management sponsorship.
 
Source:  GAO