ARCHIVED - An Enhanced Framework for the Management of Information Technology Projects - Part II Solutions: Putting the Principles to Work

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1. Executive Summary

This document is a companion to the document entitled: The Enhanced Framework for the Management of Information Technology Projects (Enhanced Framework) approved and published in May 1996. Treasury Board has directed departments to apply this framework to existing projects, as applicable, and to all future information technology projects.

Implementation of the Enhanced Framework is designed to ensure that government information technology projects fully meet the needs of the business functions they are intended to support, deliver all expected benefits and are completed on time, to cost and functionality. It is also anticipated that implementation will, over time, enable departments to increase their levels of authority.

Departments are required to attest compliance to the Enhanced Framework when seeking Treasury Board project approvals.

1.1 Purpose of the Document

The purpose of this document is to facilitate implementation of the Enhanced Framework within federal government departments.

• It provides an overview of the Enhanced Framework, the principles and related practices;
• It identifies where and how to begin the process of implementation. A model, entitled the Departmental Improvement Plateaux, provides departments with a four-step approach. Each step contains target activities and target dates for implementation. It is suggested that Plateau 0 be completed by March, 1998;
• It outlines solutions to assist departments in applying the Framework. It is expected that departments will introduce some of these solutions during the project initiation phase, Plateau 0. These solutions can and should be tailored for the specific departmental environment;
• It describes the roles and responsibilities of the key players in project delivery. The key departmental players are the Departmental Executive Committee, Business and Information Technology/Information Management (IT/IM) Senior Management, Program and Operations Managers, Corporate Services, Audit, the Project Team and the Project Governance Team. Key external players include PWGSC and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
• It provides guidance on how to get started.

The document is descriptive in nature. Each department is expected to define its own implementation strategy and plan based upon its own experiences, expertise and process improvement initiatives to date.

1.2 Chaos⁽¹⁾ No More - The New Target Environment

The Enhanced Framework addresses the establishment of sound management and software engineering processes and best practices. Implementation of these processes and practices will deliver the following results:

• IT Projects that clearly support departmental business directions and priorities;
• Effective client partnerships where clients are integral to all project phases;
• a management framework that balances the government's corporate requirements with departmental empowerment needs;
• an explicit governance structure;
• a cadre of information technology project managers who are trained in the application of the Enhanced Framework and designated common tools and methods;
• a consistent project manager discipline;
• project teams with the understanding and a commitment to the Enhanced Framework and the necessary competencies to deliver the project;
• established effective mechanisms for monitoring the status and assessing the true performance of projects;
• projects structured to ensure risks are identified and managed;
• a set of best practices, processes; and
• a continuous learning culture, with departments sharing knowledge and experience.

Full implementation of the Enhanced Framework will result in the environment described by the statements above. This is the target and achieving it will require belief in the possibilities, diligent and sound management practices, dedication in terms of time and resources, and perseverance. Senior Management must play a facilitative and active role, enabling the creation of this climate.

This new environment will permit departments to deliver IT/IM projects consistently and successfully.

1.3 Intended Audience

This document is intended for two primary audiences:

• IT/IM Senior Management whose role is to initiate improvement and to facilitate the development the Enhanced Framework environment through the provision of leadership and resourcesand
• Senior Business Management whose role is to actively support and participate in the improvement initiatives.

Together, these are the enablers of the changes espoused in the Enhanced Framework.

Three other important audiences have a crucial role to play:

• The Business Project Teams and providers of IT/IM products and services whose role is to actually create the environment and use elements of the Enhanced Framework;
• The Departmental CIO Branch and the CIO whose role is to communicate and promote the concepts of the Enhanced Framework and to assess departmental compliance with it;
• The Departmental Executive Management Team (DM & ADMs) whose role is to explicitly endorse and support the Enhanced Framework.

1.4 Relationship to Other Documents

This document and the Enhanced Framework document support and complement existing policies and regulations of the federal government regarding the management and delivery of  IT/IM projects. These are:

Administrative Management - Capital Plans, Projects and Procurement

• Project Approval
• Project Management
• Management of Major Crown Projects
• Policy on Selecting Preferred Procurement Strategies

Administrative Management – Real Property, Material and Risk Management

• Risk Management Policy

Information Management

• Strategic Direction for Government: Information Management
• Enhancing Services through the Innovative Use of Information Technology
• Management of Information Technology
• Guidelines

Additional supporting guidelines can be found in

• Treasury Board Information Technology Standards (supplementary) –TBITS 27
• Report of the Independent Review Panel on Modernization of Comptrollership in the Government of Canada

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