Gartner Research

Escaping the Vicious Cycle of IT for Government CIOs

Published: 01 July 2019

ID: G00377383

Analyst(s): Rick Holgate, Cathleen Blanton

Summary

Government CIOs can be trapped in a vicious cycle: constrained funding, unable to invest or deliver, growing technical debt and dissatisfaction, lost credibility, repeat. Multiple paths exist to escape this cycle if CIOs are aware, adept and assertive at using all available tools and practices.

Table Of Contents
  • Key Challenges

Introduction

Analysis

  • CIOs Must Not Passively Accept Budget or Program Cuts
  • If CIOs Are Not Able to Elevate the Value and Priority of IT, They Must Be Creative With Funding and Acquisition Models
  • Prioritize Efforts With Discipline, Focusing on Persistent Pain Points That Can Be Attacked and Resolved Quickly
  • Focus Relentlessly on Defining and Delivering Outcomes With Stakeholders and Customers
  • Do Not Let IT Lose Focus in a Typical Cut-and-Forget Model

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