FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2008
Contact: OMB Communications, 202-395-7254
AGENCIES DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENTS IN MANAGING IT INVESTMENTS
Washington, DC — Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its updated Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 IT Management Watch List and the OMB IT High Risk List. OMB has been working with agencies to more effectively manage their Information Technology investments. According to the updated information, Federal agencies have shown progress in their efforts for how they plan, manage, and monitor their IT investments.
FY 2008 (Q3) IT Management Watch List
As of June 30, 2008, there were 352 major IT investments remaining on the Management Watch List, representing over $23 billion in FY 2009 IT budget requests. The 352 investments represent a 40 percent decline from the original Management Watch List of 585 investments announced in February with the President's Budget release.
FY 2008 (Q3) IT High Risk List
The High Risk List now includes 477 projects that were determined to be high risk due to varying factors, such as complexity of the project, scope or level of importance. These projects represent over $15 billion in FY 2009 IT budget requests. The 477 projects represent a 21 percent decline from the original High Risk List of 601 projects announced in February with the President's Budget release. With this report, OMB released the reasons why projects are included on the High Risk List.
Background on the Two Lists
Under the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, agencies are required to submit business plans for IT investments to OMB. If the agency’s investment plan contains planning weaknesses, it’s placed on OMB’s Management Watch List and targeted for follow-up action to correct potential planning deficiencies prior to execution. In August 2005, OMB established a High Risk List for IT projects to complement the Management Watch List, which focuses on planning aspects for major investments and performance data to ensure agencies and programs are meeting their intended goals and achieving results. Projects on the High Risk List are those requiring special attention from the highest level of agency management, but aren't projects necessarily “at risk” of failure.
The Q3 FY 2008 detailed lists can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/egov/b-1-information.html#io.
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