The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) embraces a lean enterprise approach to IT portfolio management.
By emphasizing innovation and product value while minimizing waste and duplication, EPA maintains a healthy portfolio of digital products. There are two points during a product lifecycle when reviews are conducted by the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
- Initial Review: The initial review is conducted prior to the decision to acquire a digital product or service and ensures adherence to to FITARA guidance.
- Continuous Improvement Review: An annual review is conducted to ensure the product is meeting the needs of its customers. The results of this review may direct the product team to revisit discovery or development activities; or, it could result in the termination of the digital product or service.
The decision criteria for whether an Agile or Waterfall methodology will be used for a given solution is as follows.
- Problem Solution is UNKNOWN and Requirements are UNKNOWN –> Agile
- Problem Solution is UNKNOWN and Requirements are KNOWN –> Agile
- Problem Solution is KNOWN and Requirements are UNKNOWN –> Agile
- Problem Solution is KNOWN and Requirements are KNOWN –> Waterfall
The guidance in this site is designed for compliance with the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act of 2014 (FITARA) and is referenced by the CIO in conducting initial acquisition reviews and continuous IT Portfolio Reviews, as well as by the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Architect when working with programs and regions to develop and deliver digital products and services.