Tweet      

From the largest Federal government agencies to the smallest municipalities, decisions about when and how to invest in information technology (IT) have never been more important. Because of this the University at Albany’s Center for Technology in Government released a new section to one of its most popular projects “Making Smart IT Choices: Understanding Value and Risk in Government IT Investments.” 

This section entitled “Skills, Techniques and Tools” does two main things: it first looks at the general skills needed for working with groups and presenting to an audience by showing an organization what these skills are, what they can do, and what their limitations are. The second accomplishment is the presentation of tools that help organizations work through each of the three phases of analysis that lead to the creation of a business case.

"One of the most difficult decisions government managers must make in today's e-government environment is how to invest effectively in technology that will actually help program and policy initiatives succeed," said center Director Sharon Dawes. "By focusing on both value and risks, Making Smart IT Choices can help government agencies make the best use of scarce taxpayer dollars."

This publication combines information-gathering strategies with a business case design framework that CTG produced initially for the U.S. Department of Justice. Taken together, the guidebook provides an all around resource for leaders who are embarking on new e-government (IT) projects. Making Smart IT Choices is part of a series of CTG resources designed to support the use of information and information technology in government. All these resources are available at https://www.ctg.albany.edu/publications/.

The mission of the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany is to foster public sector innovation, enhance capability, generate public value, and support good governance. We carry out this mission through applied research, knowledge sharing, and collaboration at the intersection of policy, management, and technology. 

The University at Albany-SUNY has a broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, life-enhancing research and scholarship, and a commitment to public service. A University at Albany education brings the world within reach to students through nine schools and colleges, and an honors college. A student body of more than 17,000 students has a global connection to more than 140,000 alumni. For more information about this internationally ranked institution, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.php.