Executive Guide

Information technology is now essential to the delivery of government services. As the federal government fully embraces e-commerce and other leading edge applications of information technology, the successful management of the government's information resources becomes crucial. Congress, recognizing the need for greater leadership in information management passed the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. This legislation mandates the hiring of chief information officers at federal agencies. Today, virtually all the major executive branch agencies have appointed chief information officers, and many of these individuals have taken positive steps toward implementing important information management processes. For federal agencies to reap the full benefits of information management reform, however, chief information officers must assume their roles as information management leaders and become active participants in developing agency strategic plans and policies. This guide is intended to help federal agencies maximize the success of their chief information officers. Principles and practices gleaned from case studies presented in GAO's guide offer concrete suggestions on how agencies can ensure the effectiveness of their chief information officer organizations.