Summary

On the whole, the federal government's track record in delivering high value information technology solutions at acceptable cost is not good. Federal agencies lack adequate processes and reliable data to manage investments in information technology. The Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996 requires significant changes in the way that government agencies manage and acquire information technology. The act emphasizes senior executive involvement in information management decisions, the establishment of Chief Information Officers as members of executive management teams, investment control and capital planning, process reengineering, and the use of performance measures to ensure accountability for spending on information technology. Once agencies begin to implement ITMRA, Congress should have a much clearer understanding of how information technology expenditures can benefit agencies' performance. Governmentwide, success rates should be higher for information technology projects completed within reasonable time frames, at acceptable costs, and with positive net rates of return on investment.