Managing the rapid pace of technology change and the costs associated with its implementation has risen to the forefront of management consideration. The realization that as IT moves to the core of businesses, planning is essential if systems success and leverage are to be achieved. Strategic Information Plans (IT Master Plans in the airport industry) provide executive management with a prioritized road map and master plan for implementing systems and technology.

DCG has developed many such Plans for public sector entities, and utilizes a structured approach which includes:

• Assessment of the existing information systems environment, which includes inventory of the applications, platform, desktop and network environment

• Review and assessment of the direct IT organization and other support resources

• Critical Success Factor (CSF) analysis

• Analysis of IT costs/spending against industry benchmarks

• Technical assessment of key applications

• Evaluation of technology directions/alternatives

• Special emphasis review of key areas critical to management

• Comparison of IT practices and trends against a group of industry peers

The Plan results in recommendations in the areas of Planning & Control Strategy; Network/Telecommunications Strategy; Hardware/Platform Strategy; Desktop Strategy; Applications Strategy; IT Organization Strategy.

DCG then works with management to prioritize study results and develops a comprehensive Action Plan, which prioritizes the specific agreed-upon projects resulting from the Plan. Finally, DCG uses its proprietary a modeling tool which provides a detailed three (3) year implementation schedule that includes cost and resources required to implement the Plan.

IT Strategic Plans or Master Plans generally take an enterprise view, however, Plans can and are also developed for individual departments or functions of an organization.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

• Dallas Forth Worth Airport - Integrated Operations Center (IOC)

• Houston Airport System (multiple plans)

• Quiport - New Quito International Airport (Quito, Ecuador)

• Kenton County Airport Board (Cincinnati)

• City of Houston, Texas

• City of Houston - Dept of Public Works & Engineering

• City of Houston Municipal Courts

• Spring Branch Independent School District