Overview
Effective use of Information Technology (IT) can enable and improve government services and the processes that underpin those services. Indeed it is difficult to think of a business or organization that does not use and benefit from IT. In the public sector a common goal of IT and business is to enable a responsive, accountable, and citizen-centric government.
Mission
The mission of the IT/ Business Alignment Strategies group is to establish working partnerships with State business leaders and IT management to deliver the desired level of business value and performance. By working at the intersection of business and IT management, the unit is involved in activities that ensure business strategies and initiatives are informed and enabled by IT plans and projects, and that business goals, objectives, and processes are achieved by IT applications, infrastructure, and operations.
Approach
The unit focuses on the processes, disciplines, and methodologies that govern the interactions of business and IT management, particularly those crossing traditional business/IT boundaries. Because the state is a technology-dependent entity, better management at the confluence of business and IT interests is required to introduce new and innovative governmental services, improve constituent satisfaction, increase outcomes of governmental programs, and realize greater productivities and efficiencies in operations.
Goals
- Assist agency staff and management in the IT planning process. The unit advocates improved delivery of services through the alignment of business services and IT initiatives in an effective and cost conscious way. IT/Business Alignment asks that business plans and IT initiatives are linked to provide a line-of-sight view into each IT investment and its associated value to the business.
- Apply architectural principles, practices and standards to technology, information flow, business process and IT deliverables. By using a common tested reference model, agencies can reduce the risk profile for programs, projects and initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to combine common capabilities (IT and business process) and recommend steps to reduce duplication, avoid cost, and improve performance. Leverage where possible economies of scale.
Major Activities
The unit works with state agencies, ITS, and State CIO staff and organizations to:
- further align IT plans and resources to the goals of business strategies;
- effectively use the state’s investments in technology assets to contribute to business performance and achieve Agency goals and objectives; and
- improve the planning, budgeting, and management of IT.
