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• Foundations



• I. Strategic IT Planning and Management
  
  
  • Background
  
  
  
  • A. Plan
  
  
  
  • B. Implement
  
  
  
  • C. Monitor
  
  
  
  • D. Adjust
  
  
  
  • Resources
  
  
  
  
• II. Technical Architecture



• III. Technical Evolution



• IV. Technology Fabrication Projects



• V. Technology Deployment



• VI. Technical Operations



• Consolidated Resources

Envision the journey, set a course to the future, and navigate in dynamic business and technology environments.

Introduction

The purpose of this Guide is to assist State HS IT staff in migrating from older to newer technologies. The documentation is a logical, step-by-step progression from planning to implementation to monitoring and mid-course adjustment. The basic premise is that a good Strategic Plan and management will help ensure the success of the HS IT projects.

By following these steps, you will create a Strategic Plan that aligns IT Division responsibilities, obligations, and technology decisions with the goals of the HS Agency. The Strategic Plan then will serve as the basis for making decisions about an appropriate Technical Architecture and the IT projects.

The HS IT manager works in a dynamic environment of multiple HS programs, each with stakeholders and users with specific and sometimes contradictory needs. Stakeholders and users can include case managers, HS Agency administrators, the State CIO, the State legislature, and Federal Agencies that fund programs and related information systems. While each State organizes and manages HS programs in unique ways, there are common elements involved in planning for and implementing IT projects that are the subject of this guide.

This guide is written for staff with responsibility for strategic planning and implementation of IT projects. Issues included in the guide reflect common HS Agency concerns, including Federal rules and requirements. This provides all the principles, steps, and strategies that are applicable to IT Divisions; however, the IT Division can customize these to meet their individual needs.  To customize guidance check information contained in the Application of the IT Planning and Management Guides.

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Processes

This guide defines the key activities, artifacts, and roles that are necessary to create and manage the HS IT Strategic Plan. The top-level processes are shown below in the management figure and described in the following text.

The top-level processes are as follows:

1. Plan Course of Action - These steps establish the strategic planning project and create the HS IT Strategic Plan.
2. Implement Plan - These steps allocate resources and delegate authorities and responsibilities to achieve the plan.
3. Monitor Operations - These steps monitor strategic indicators for performance against the HS IT Strategic Plan.
4. Adjust Course - These steps make mid-course adjustments to the HS IT Strategic Plan and its implementation. Significant changes will require the execution of the Plan Course of Action section.

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Browse the Resources
Resources that help you create a Strategic Plan for the HS IT domain are continually being collected and cataloged. You may review them at Resources.

PDF Available
Adobe PDF versions of each published IT Planning and Management Guide, the Guides Foundations, and the Consolidated Resources are available for download.

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