Appendix A: OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING PROCESS EMPLOYED FOR THIS IT STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

Eight Phase Process Employed for this IT Strategy Development

1 (a) Establish a structured, inclusive and collaborative process with each Agency, Bureau, and Office of the Department

1 (b) Examine and evaluate the current mission and vision of the Department and the alignment and performance of Agency programs

2 Consult with key stakeholders: IT managers, agency heads and staff

3 (a) Scan the external environment: Federal legislation, Presidential directives, CIO Council recommendations, OMB guidelines, other Departments of the U.S. Government

3 (b) Consider and weight the strategic external factors

4 (a) Scan the internal environment: catalogue all Agency-level programs and associate these programs with specific IT needs

4 (b) Consider and weight the strategic internal factors

5 (a) Consider all strategic factors in light of the current Department situation

5 (b) Review and revise as necessary the IT Program's mission, vision and objectives

6 (a) Generate and evaluate strategy alternatives and strategic program initiatives

6 (b) Select and recommend best strategy and best strategy program initiatives that align with the Department's mission and vision, the Agency program needs and the external stakeholder requirements

7 (a) Implement strategies and define, launch and direct IT initiatives: understand and define the skills, resources and processes necessary to manage and govern the implementations

8 Manage, Evaluate, Control and Update: strategy and initiatives - understand and define the performance measures, milestones, budgeting implication and risk mitigation aspects of strategic initiative implementation