January 2012 VITA Service Bulletin

From the CIO

VITA is a service organization, and our job is to provide a business-like approach to the management of the IT services that we provide to state and local government entities.

Currently, we have several initiatives underway to reduce costs and improve productivity for both state and local government: the Comprehensive Information Technology Assessments, the Telephone Expense Management (wireless) usage audit, solutions to support increased productivity, technology upgrades, the state Web portal and initiatives of the Governor’s Reform Commission. Localities also can lower costs by leveraging VITA’s pre-negotiated statewide contracts, including telecommunication services and statement of work and IT staffing projects through VITA's contract with Computer Aid Inc. (CAI).

To achieve our goals, VITA is aligning our priorities to the new Commonwealth Technology Business Plan, which indicates where future IT projects can best support the Commonwealth’s strategic business priorities. The plan was developed and approved by the Information Technology Advisory Council (ITAC), which is charged with providing business advice and direction to me and to the Secretary of Technology. ITAC members represent agency business leaders and citizens and is chaired by Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey.

Last year, Cabinet secretaries and the Council on Virginia’s Future collaborated to develop the Commonwealth of Virginia Enterprise Strategic Priorities. That document arranges the cabinet secretaries’ designated business priorities according to the council’s seven long-term goals and provides strategies for implementation. The council and VITA staff, in conjunction with an ITAC workgroup, evaluated potential IT initiatives against those defined business priorities.

As CIO, I will use the plan’s key initiatives as the starting point for the 2012 update of the Statewide IT Strategic Plan. Workgroups of stakeholders will identify the most promising opportunities and recommend a specific action plan and schedule. The plan will provide guidance to executive branch agencies for development of IT strategic plans and projects, and to evaluate and prioritize agencies’ major IT projects and make recommendations for funding.

I anticipate that many of you are involved in similar planning endeavors for 2012. As in past years, some of our projects likely will offer business value to local government. I look forward to another year of working with you toward our shared goals.

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